Unfare ??

Bus fares in Edinburgh went up yesterday for the third time in four years. Its now 30% more expensive to travel by bus in Edinburgh since the SNP came to power at Holyrood and the SNP/LibDem coalition took over at the City Chambers, both in May 2007. 10p each way increase might not sound like much but if you get the bus to and from your work every day that's £4/month more out of your pocket. Part of the increase is due to fuel prices but Lothian Buses have also confirmed in this Evening News piece that its also due to reduced support from the SNP Government in funding the Concessionary Fares Scheme. The SNP have been making great play recently of the Council Tax freeze, which is all well and good but if you reduce support for other services to the extent that we all have to pay more for the basics, (special uplifts, Garden Aid, travel from home to school for certain children) and pass on the costs to ordinary families it results in indiscriminate tax rises by the back door to those who can least afford it. Not very fair in my opinion.