On Friday 23 April we held the fifth and final event in our ‘Moving the Vote: Transport Conversations with the parties’ series. A recording of which can be found here. We welcomed Michael Matheson MSP from the Scottish National Party, the current Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, alongside Alastair Dalton, Transport Correspondent for The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday, as chair.
After events with the Scottish: Conservatives, Lib Dems, Labour and Greens, it was great to hear from the SNP.
The event began with introductions from Transform’s Policy Officer, Marie Felderman, and Alastair Dalton. Afterwards, Michael Matheson gave a brief outline of the Scottish National Party’s vision for Scotland’s transport sector. Noting that:
- The SNP consider transport key to reaching the net zero target by 2045
- They will commit to spending £500m on bus prioritisation in the next five years
- His party will ensure that any school age child has access to a bike
During the Q&A, concerns were raised by members of the audience about the SNP’s continued spending on the A9 and A96, especially in contrast to the much smaller budget dedicated to the Highland Main Line.
The event was live-tweeted from the Transform Scotland account and can be summarised by the tweets below:
Getting set up now for 1pm kick-off for the 5th in our #Holyrood2021 #SP21 series.
We've already heard from Tories, Lib Dems, Labour, Greens. Now it's the turn of @theSNP.@AlastairDalton chairing
Feel free to chip in using the hashtag #MovingTheVote.https://t.co/k00oTj0UYH
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
Looking forward to helping on the expert panel for this event shortly as @SustransScot representative. Tune in for a chance to ask your questions https://t.co/RLmPUqT7G5
— clairejazz (@clairejazz) April 23, 2021
Today we're welcoming @MathesonMichael.@theSNP candidate for Falkirk West. MSP since in 1999, first representing Central Scotland region, and the Falkirk West constituency since 2007.
He is the current @scotgov Cabinet Secretary for Transport.#MovingTheVote #SP21 #Holyrood21
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
On our panel today, we're pleased to be joined by:
* Julianne Robertson: @_julesrobertson of @xploredundee
* Claire Daly: @clairejazz of @SustransScot
* Paul Tetlaw @Paultetlaw & Roger Humphrey @RojH123 of @TransformScot policy forum#MovingTheVote #SP21 #Holyrood2021— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
Transform policy officer Marie Ferdelman is starting our #MovingTheVote event just now.
Welcomes our speaker @MathesonMichael and also @AlastairDalton, Transport Correspondent for The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday, who we're very happy to have chairing our election event series.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
.@MathesonMichael sets out @theSNP record in transport, framed in net-zero, including:
* "record investment" in #rail
* £500m #Bus Partnership Fund
* doubling #ActiveTravel spend to £115m#MovingTheVote #SP21 #Holyrood21— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
The devil is in the detail here. 10% of the capital budget for active travel is not 10% of the overall transport budget. It's probably more like 5%. @ScottishLabour and @ScotTories are making the more straightforward promise of 10% of the transport budget for active travel https://t.co/FVfBWnJbqs
— Sally Hinchcliffe (@sallyhinch) April 23, 2021
First question from Chris Day: how does @theSNP traffic reduction commitment fit with having a multi-billion pound road-building programme?
In response, @MathesonMichael sees no conflict here.
(We would disagree.)
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
Follow-up question from @Paultetlaw:
How can #A9Dualling be justified given modest investment in the parallel Highland Main Line?@MathesonMichael won't commit to dualling of the line, but will look at potential #electrification.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
Further question on roads, this time for @TS_Director:
The Welsh have recently cancelled roads schemes. When will @theSNP say 'no' to *any* road scheme?
In response, @MathesonMichael says emphasis will begin to move towards maintaining existing infrastructure.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
Question from @RojH123: What will be done to reduce traffic levels given the lower price of electric vehicles will make motoring cheaper? Needs new tax/pricing regime to tackle this.#MovingTheVote #SP21 #Holyrood21
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
.@MathesonMichael flags need for more sensible debate around transport, citing crazed debate in @ScotParl around #WorkplaceParkingLevy powers for local authorities. Only @theSNP & @scottishgreens had credible position.
We certainly agree here.#MovingTheVote #SP21 #Holyrood21
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
@TransformScot #movingthevote #Holyrood21 event with Michael Mathieson @theSNP getting interesting regarding the need for demand management.
— Stuart Hay (@StreetWurrier) April 23, 2021
Questions now moved on to active travel issues.
Question: when #PavementParking ban will actually be implemented?#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
@TransformScot #movingthevote #holyrood21 bombshell from @MathesonMichael @theSNP on further footway parking ban delays until 2023 due to council capacity post pandemic … but at least he seemed frustrated.
— Stuart Hay (@StreetWurrier) April 23, 2021
Question on #AirPassengerDuty: has it been shelved for good?@MathesonMichael says no change to @theSNP position here.
Good.@Paultetlaw flags need for Anglo-Scottish #rail improvements, flagging recent French policy. @MathesonMichael agrees.#MovingTheVote #SP21 #Holyrood21
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
Final #MovingTheVote question from Ian Budd from Friends of the Far North Line:
The Highlands are being connected by two mainly single-track railways. Will the Strategic Transport Projects Review correct this?@MathesonMichael says @NetworkRailSCOT will be looking at this.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
Follow-up from @Paultetlaw: Does @MathesonMichael have views on the future structure of #rail industry?
Michael Matheson would like to see @NetworkRailSCOT powers devolved to Scotland. (We agree.) Rail delays mainly due to poor infrastructure.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
.@AlastairDalton wrapping up.
Marie thanks @MathesonMichael. Highlights welcome commitments:
* #APD
* decarbonisation of #bus
* plan for 20% traffic reduction.But plan will need demand management measures to be included.
And disagreement with @theSNP around road-building.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 23, 2021
Our thanks again to Michael Matheson MSP for speaking at this event, and Alastair Dalton for chairing it.
