News
Moving the Vote: Graham Simpson outlines the Conservatives’ vision for sustainable transport
Published 17 February 2021 by Transform Scotland
We held the first in our ‘Moving the Vote, transport conversations with the parties’ event series on Monday 15 February. We were delighted to welcome Graham Simpson MSP, the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity from the Scottish Conservatives, and Alastair Dalton, Transport Correspondent for The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday, as chair. For details of the other events in the series with the Liberal Democrats, Labour, Greens, and SNP, please visit the ‘Moving the Vote’ webpage.
We are also sharing the recording of the event which can be viewed here.
The event began with introductions from Transform communications officer, Matt McDonald, and Alastair Dalton. Following that, Graham gave a brief outline of his party’s vision for sustainable transport noting that: he wants to see people use their cars less, but acknowledging some people also need to use cars, so there’s a balance to be struck. He also added that he was keen on active travel and wants to see recovery for bus and rail.
The event was live-tweeted from the Transform Scotland account and can be summarised by the tweets below:
Join me at 1pm today to hear Scottish Conservatives' transport spokesperson @GrahamSMSP's transport priorities. Free registration for the first in this @TransformScot series of pre-election events #movingthevote https://t.co/PcUqprAmYx
— Alastair Dalton (@AlastairDalton) February 15, 2021
Transform comms officer @MattMcDonald194 has opened our #movingthevote event, saying that we need to see action on #climatechange in the parties' manifestos for the #Holyrood21 elections.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) February 15, 2021
.@keithirving1 asks whether #ClimateEmergency means we should take radical steps to reduce the miles driven on our roads, and, as a politician, does @GrahamSMSP think cycling routes should be built where they will create the most use — or the least complaints? #movingthevote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) February 15, 2021
.@GrahamSMSP has drafted series of proposals for #ScotTories on #activetravel (still to be published).
Better streets (including segregated cycle routes); Cycling should be at the centre of decision-making; Empowering local authorities; Safe cycling conditions.#movingthevote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) February 15, 2021
.@alastairdalton asks whether £6 billion to be spent on A9 and A96 dualling is consistent with #ClimateEmergency.@GrahamSMSP thinks it is.
[Needless to say, we disagree.]#movingthevote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) February 15, 2021
.@GrahamSMSP also supports adding third lane to the M8 motorway.
[We also disagree with that!]#movingthevote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) February 15, 2021
Enjoying @TransformScot #MoveTheVote husting even with @ScotTories and @GrahamSMSP … lots of progress on conservative transport thinking, but more leadership needed on reallocation of spending and road space. Is an extra M8 motorway lane needed in post COVID Scotland?
— Stuart Hay (@StreetWurrier) February 15, 2021
ONE MORE LANE WILL SOLVE IT https://t.co/PckoTzWzeF pic.twitter.com/TfGEjaFUGI
— Thomas O. Cornwallis (@UrbanistTOC) February 15, 2021
.@_julesrobertson of @XploreDundee asks what @GrahamSMSP would do to get more folk into buses & to disincentivise car use.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) February 15, 2021
David Spaven asks why #HighlandMainLine is not being upgraded at the same time as the #A9. @GrahamSMSP agrees with David.
Transform's @Paultetlaw says promises for rail upgrading have been made & failed. HML should be dualled & electrified. Where's the balance?#movingthevote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) February 15, 2021
Good to hear @GrahamSMSP Transport Spokesperson from @ScotTories confirm that the #HighlandMainLine railway should be being dualled and electrified in the @TransformScot election event.#ClimateEmergency
— jess pepper (@pepper_jess) February 15, 2021
Transform's Marie Ferdelman wraps up the first of our #movingthevote events, thanking @AlastairDalton for chairing & also our speaker.
Some good stuff from @GrahamSMSP on #activetravel & #publictransport, but we're not sure how those new roads will tackle the #ClimateEmergency! pic.twitter.com/1PE4gCcWp9
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) February 15, 2021
Very enjoyable event with some good ideas. Transport is an area where people should be happy to disagree at times. Debate is good. https://t.co/qlzw8pX2v0
— Graham Simpson (@GrahamSMSP) February 15, 2021
Our thanks again to Graham Simpson MSP for joining us for the event and to Alastair Dalton for chairing.
