SNP ‘lost plot’ after backing free asylum seeker travel but cutting winter fuel payments, say Tories

Shona Robison, the SNP Finance Secretary
Shona Robison, the SNP Finance Secretary, made a series of cuts to public spending in August, including pensioners’ winter fuel payments - ALAMY

The Scottish Parliament has “lost the plot” by backing plans to provide free bus travel to asylum seekers while pensioners’ winter fuel payments are being cut, the Tories have said.

SNP and Liberal Democrat MSPs backed a Green motion stating that the Scottish Government “should extend free bus travel to people seeking asylum as soon as possible”.

The Greens welcomed the about-turn by John Swinney’s SNP Government after it axed the policy in August as part of a series of cuts to public spending.

Fiona Hyslop, the SNP Transport Secretary, suggested the scheme could still go ahead this year.

Mark Ruskell, the Greens’ transport spokesman, said SNP ministers must now table a plan of action to introduce free bus travel for asylum seekers before the next Holyrood election in May 2026.

But the Tories said it was “scandalous” that the £2 million subsidy could be provided at the same time as the Scottish Government was means testing the winter fuel payment.

Mark Ruskell, the Greens' transport spokesman
Mark Ruskell, the Greens’ transport spokesman, said that the government should introduce free bus travel for asylum seekers before the next Holyrood election in May 2026 - KEN JACK/GETTY

Sue Webber, the shadow transport secretary, said the move showed that Holyrood “doesn’t stand up for” pensioners.

Humza Yousaf, the former first minister, confirmed in November last year that free bus travel would be provided in Scotland to people seeking asylum.

The Scottish Greens, who were then his coalition partners in his government, pushed for the move and argued it could be “life-saving”.

But the Scottish Government scrapped the plan two months ago, blaming a lack of money. Shona Robison, the SNP Finance Secretary, warned that spending cuts were unavoidable to plug a shortfall created by public sector pay rises.

In the same month, August, SNP ministers announced that almost a million Scottish pensioners would lose their winter fuel payments from this year.

The payment of between £100 and £300 will now only go to 130,000 OAPs in receipt of Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits - 900,000 fewer than last year.

This means the SNP will break a 2021 Holyrood election manifesto pledge not to means test the benefit and control over which was recently devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

‘Scandalous’ decision

John Swinney argued that he had no choice but to follow the Chancellor’s decision to means test the payment south of the Border as this had led to a £160 million cut in the Scottish Government’s funding.

But Ms Webber said: “The proposal is to spend millions of pounds giving asylum seekers free travel at the very same time the SNP and Labour are taking away the winter fuel payment from pensioners.

“People who have worked hard all their days are getting their winter fuel payment cut, forcing some to choose between heating and eating this winter. It’s scandalous and, to people across Scotland, it looks like the Scottish Parliament has lost the plot.”

MSPs voted by a margin of 68 to 27 to back the Green call for free bus travel for asylum seekers.

Sue Webber, the Scottish Tory shadow transport secretary
Sue Webber, the Scottish Tory shadow transport secretary, said the SNP’s decision showed that the party ‘doesn’t stand up for’ pensioners - ALAMY

Only the Tories opposed the call, while Labour MSPs backed the policy in principle but abstained after an SNP amendment passed demanding that the UK Government provide extra funding.

Ms Hyslop told MSPs: “We remain committed to trying to find a way through the budget processes left in this parliamentary session to fund this support.”

However, she said budget constraints meant she could not guarantee funding for the policy.

Mr Ruskell said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s U-turn to reinstate free bus travel for people seeking asylum across our country. The policy should never have been dropped in the first place, and we were deeply disappointed when it was.

“There must be more than just words from the Government on this issue, and a plan of action must follow to lay out the schedule before the end of the current parliamentary session, as well as ensuring the funding is allocated and guaranteed.”