Block Glasgow Charge and Stop SNP War on Motorists

The party accused the SNP and Greens of pressing ahead with plans to punish working people by making motorists pay simply to get into the city.

The proposed charge would hit people travelling into Glasgow from across the west of Scotland, including Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire, as well as those coming from further afield.

Scottish Labour said the plans would punish people for going to work, taking children to childcare, attending hospital appointments, or spending time with family and friends.

The party warned that workers and families are facing the threat of yet another bill while Glasgow’s buses and trains are still too unreliable, too infrequent, and too expensive to offer a real alternative.

Scottish Labour said it is wrong that motorists are being lined up to pay the price for years of SNP failure to fund Glasgow properly and fix public transport.

Business leaders have also raised concerns about the impact of the charge, with warnings it could damage the city economy and drive jobs and investment away from Glasgow.

Commenting, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “The SNP has underfunded Glasgow for years and now they want working people to pay the price for their failure.

“This charge would punish motorists for going to work, seeing family, meeting friends, or getting to vital services like hospital appointments.

“That is not fair, and Scottish Labour would block it.

“If the SNP and Greens were serious about tackling congestion, they would fix the mess they have made of buses and trains instead of continuing their war on motorists.

“I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Glasgow and for Scotland.

“That means standing up for working people, standing up for motorists, and blocking charges like this.

“On May 7, vote Scottish Labour on both votes to block this charge and deliver the change Glasgow needs.”