TRANSPORT Minister Humza Yousaf claims that Scottish Labour’s transport spokesperson Neil Bibby has snubbed his call for a cross-party campaign over rail funding.
Bibby hit back, accusing Yousaf of presiding over a chaotic rail service in Scotland.
Yousaf maintains Scotland has been left with a £600 million rail funding shortfall from the Treasury which the SNP minister says this will damage key projects.
He has written to the main opposition parties asking for a united campaign for better funding.
Scottish Green transport spokesman John Finnie has backed him.
However, Yousaf said Labour’s transport spokesman Neil Bibby had failed to respond to his letter of 10 weeks ago.
“Neil Bibby's silence on this issue is unforgivable," Yousaf said. "To have no response after 10 weeks – such silence is effectively Labour siding with the Tories again to slash Scotland’s rail budget.
“It’s a nonsense that the Tories think they can get away with this – and it beggars belief that Neil Bibby isn’t calling them out – like the Scottish Greens have.
"They’re trying to dress up hundreds of million pounds cut in UK Government funding for Scotland’s railways as something we should be grateful for.
“It’s the worst sort of cynical Tory behaviour in trying to pull the wool over Scotland while imposing wholesale cuts on our public services.
“Given Scotland’s size and geography we need a fair funding deal for our railways. That’s something that all parties – even the Scottish Labour Party – should get behind if they truly have Scotland’s interests at heart.”
Bibby responded: "The Labour Party is leading the fight against austerity and for investment in the rail network. The idea that we are not is completely preposterous.
"While Humza Yousaf and the Tories try to blame each other for the mess they are continuing to make on the railways, Labour is committed to ensuring that Scotland and every part of the UK gets its fair share of investment.
"There seems to be all kinds of chaos and confusion around rail investment right now and we are open to proper talks on the issue.
"What is important for passengers is that new rail projects go ahead and we will hold both Humza Yousaf and the Tories accountable for the decisions they make."
In response, a UK Treasury spokesman said: “Our record investment for railways across the UK means a settlement for Scotland that could improve the entire network."
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