Friday May 22nd 2026
Lothian Bus on Princes Street
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
People of Edinburgh are being treated like “second-class citizens” over public transport, a councillor claimed on Thursday.
Kevin Lang, Lib Dems, spoke out during a question to the council leader on an SNP pledge to cap bus fares.
Labour leader of the council Jane Meagher said the Scottish Government had “drawn back” from a manifesto promise.
Councillor Lang told the meeting in the City Chambers. “One of the key commitments which the new Scottish Government made was the promise to introduce a £2 cap on bus fares.
“I thought it interesting that one of the examples given was the high cost of travelling by bus from Edinburgh to Peebles.”
“However, the First Minister has since said that while areas such as Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire may benefit from this policy in the government’s first 100 days, the rest of us, including Edinburgh, may have to wait up to five years.”
Councillor Lang asked the council leader: “Does she think it right that the bus passengers of this city be treated like second-class citizens in the roll out of what is supposed to be a national policy?
Councillor Meagher said: “On one level I’m not surprised because it is entirely consistent with the way the Scottish Government has treated this city for decades in terms of its funding and its policies.
“It’s very hard not to see that other parts of the country are treated more favourably than this city is.
“I found it absolutely appalling that we, as the capital city, are disadvantaged in this kind of way. To me it is a scandal. It’s also a drawing back from the manifesto as promised and I think that’s shocking.”
She added: “It fits a pattern.”
In April the SNP said on its social media: “A re-elected SNP government will cap bus fares at £2 across Scotland, keeping more money in your pocket.”
A trial in the Highlands and Islands is to be rolled out across densely populated areas in the west of Scotland and negotiations are under way with operators.
The SNP has been contacted for comment.
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