Humza Yousaf urged to bring bus services in Scotland back into public ownership

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Humza Yousaf has been urged to make a "clear commitment" to bringing Scotland's buses back into public ownership.Anti-poverty campaigners argue the current privatised system has led to vital services being slashed and fares reaching unaffordable levels.Bus routes were previously managed by local councils until Margaret Thatcher demanded they be sold-off in the 1980s.The Poverty Alliance has now written to the First Minister to claim public services should be run "with people, not profit, at their heart".It comes after First Bus announced it would delay the scrapping of its night services across Greater Glasgow until the end of August following a backlash.Rival firm McGill's said yesterday it would step in and offer alternative late night routes.But campaigners argue bus services should not be left to the whims of private companies.Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, said: "Scotland is being forced to put up with cuts to bus services and unaffordable fares – and it’s people on low incomes who are being hit the hardest because they are more likely to use buses . "It is wrong that a private company can simply decide to scrap services when they choose, and the only thing the First Minister can do is write them a stern letter or offer them more money to reinstate them.

We need public services run with people, not profit, at their heart."Public ownership would allow us to radically reform bus networks in order to reduce fares and make sure networks are created to meet people’s needs."The First Minister should make a clear commitment to public ownership of our buses right away, and then start the important work of supporting local councils get services on the road."Glasgow City Council said last week it was at the