RICHARD Leonard has been accused of “sheer incompetence” after failing to consult the body essential to his signature policy as Scottish Labour leader.

Mr Leonard announced at his party conference this month that a Scottish Labour government would introduce free bus travel for under-25s on “day one” in office, then extend it to the entire population.

It was his biggest policy offer since becoming leader in November 2017.

Labour later confirmed its plan was based on massively expanding the Young Scot card scheme which gives 16 to 18 year olds a third off bus travel.

However the Herald can reveal Labour failed to contact Young Scot to see if the proposal was feasible before Mr Leonard made his announcement.

The charity only learned of its potential role after this newspaper reported it last week, just hours before Labour held a Holyrood debate on the subject.

Chief Executive Louise Macdonald OBE said: “Young Scot was not contacted beforehand.

“On the day of the debate we noted the article in The Herald and contacted Scottish Labour to ensure the information they had was factually correct about card numbers, how the card technically operates and the current transport entitlements.”

She said expanding the Young Scot scheme was “technically possible” but would require “robust planning with delivery partners across Scotland”.

Scottish Labour also said giving free bus travel to 1.3m people aged between five and 25 would cost £26m.

But in the Holyrood debate, SNP Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said the cost was likely to be between £200m and £230m a year.

A Scottish Labour source said: “This looks like we haven’t done our homework, and is just a gift for our opponents. After a year and a half, the party’s first major new policy really should have been copper-bottomed.”

Tory MSP Jamie Greene said: “This incompetence completely sums up Scottish Labour at the moment. They announce a flagship policy which they cost at only 5 per cent of the estimates most industry commentators think the true cost would be, and now we learn they forgot to run the idea past the organisation which would have to implement it.

“Fortunately for Young Scot, so few people take Richard Leonard and his party seriously these days, they are unlikely to see government office any time soon.”

LibDem MSP Mike Rumbles said: “It’s astonishing that Young Scot found out about Labour’s planned changes to how many people would require its cards through the papers.

“The move would massively expand their administrative responsibilities so it would be fair to expect Labour to alert them to the proposals before announcing the flagship policy publicly.

“This shoddy process coupled with the sheer incompetence of their costings shows the public that Labour’s plans aren’t seriously thought through. It’s obvious they haven’t any intention of actually implementing this proposal.”

An SNP spokesperson added: “The lack of basic detail in Labour’s flagship policy announcement shows that they are just not serious about delivering on promises to voters.  

“This policy is clearly built on very shaky foundations, and shows just why voters don’t take them seriously.”

After the Holyrood debate, MSPs backed a government study into extending free bus travel to under-25s as part of a review of concessionary travel.

Ms Macdonald added: “Regarding the feasibility of the proposal, we are confident that adding such an entitlement to the card is technically possible, with appropriate robust planning with delivery partners across Scotland, including with the bus operators, as the existing discount of one third off for 16 to 18 year olds is well established.

“As to the question of whether it should be introduced, that is an issue for democratic discussion and we hope that the review announced by the Cabinet Secretary will work to ensure that the views of young people across the country are captured and heard.”

Asked about Scottish Labour's failure to consult Young Scot, a party spokesperson said: "Young Scot has made clear that adding a new entitlement to free bus travel to under 25s to the Young Scot Card would be technically feasible with appropriate investment, robust planning and support with delivery partners across Scotland, as the existing system offering a discount of one third off for 16-18 year olds is well established."