TORY-SNP UNHOLY ALLIANCE BOLSTERED BY BUS VOTE

3.38.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 14th Jun 2008

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has pointed to this week's vote on de-regulating bus services as further proof of the Tory-SNP unholy alliance.

Jim Hume said:-

"Despite vocal criticism of bus de-regulation, the SNP voted for a Tory amendment that supported de-regulating buses. This is the latest evidence of SNP and Tory MSPs abandoning core principles to bolster their unholy coalition in the Scottish Parliament.

The MSP continued:-

"This is an incredible u-turn by the SNP. Senior Nationalists are on record supporting re-regulation of buses. In opposition, Kenny MacAskill, now Justice Secretary, had a Members' Bill calling for re-regulation. The SNP's 2003 manifesto contained scathing criticism of de-regulation, 'Tory de-regulation of buses has not been a success' and promised that 'an SNP Executive would legislate for Bus Regulation'.

"The SNP are so desperate not to lose their parliamentary lapdogs that they've abandoned one of their key principles."