DOUGLAS Ross has been slammed over Tory “hypocrisy” on workplace parking charges after labelling the First Minister “anti driver”.
The Scottish Tory leader claimed the cost of the controversial tax would fall on public sector workers who are facing a cost of living crisis. He called on the Scottish Government to drop the charge at First Minister’s Questions.
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But Nicola Sturgeon claimed the cost of living crisis had been created in Westminster, slamming the Chancellor’s “complete failure” to respond adequately.
She said councils were not under obligation to impose the charge if they didn’t want to, and claimed the Scottish Government was “empowering” local authorities.
Ross was accused of “hypocrisy” after the First Minister said the charges had been introduced in England “more than a decade” ago.
The workplace parking levy – which the AA warned could cost workers thousands – is part of the Government’s ambitions to meet its climate targets, according to the First Minister.
Sturgeon added: “We need to get people out of cars and onto public transport.”
She also accused the Tories of “opportunistically” opposing climate change measures taken by the Scottish Government.
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Ross also urged the First Minister to promise no further cuts would be made to ScotRail services when it is taken into public ownership on April 1.
The First Minister listed a number of parts of Scotland which had been “reconnected to the railways” under the SNP, including Blackridge, Armadale, Caldercruix and Alloa, “reversing Beeching cuts” from the 20th century.
Sturgeon also pledged the Government would “take measures” to keep ticket prices affordable and said nationalising ScotRail will see further improvements and extensions to the service.
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