Aberdeen Labour is standing by its commitment to a possible re-introduction of corporation buses – despite entering an alliance with the party who privatised them.
The centrepiece pledge of the party’s manifesto was to investigate bringing back the Grampian buses onto the streets of the Granite City to compete with private transport giants First and Stagecoach.
In March, councillors unanimously backed a motion to instruct council officers to investigate how they could bring the service back to Aberdeen.
But the two ruling groups may find themselves ideologically opposed on the issue, with the Conservatives originally privatising the buses under Margaret Thatcher.
Mrs Thatcher’s Transport Act of 1985 first opened the door to privatised and deregulated services into British cities with Aberdeen’s First Bus buying out the Grampian Buses in 1989.
Last night Aberdeen Labour’s transport spokesman said the party remained committed to the policy – though the Conservatives said they were still considering their position.
Aberdeen Labour transport spokesman Ross Grant said: “People are tired of seeing profit put before passengers. My motion to council to investigate these options received unanimous approval and I look forward to see what options council officers bring back to members in the coming months.”
George Street and Harbour Conservative Ryan Houghton said the Tories were still considering their position.
He said: “We’ll review the report when it comes before the infrastructure committee and consider the various recommendations, as well as the financial and legal implications and evidence before making a decision.”
Corporation buses were also included in the SNP’s manifesto.
Michael Hutchison, the group’s infrastructure spokesman, said: “There is an unequivocal mandate for the local authority to explore a council-run bus service for our city.
“28 councillors, across party lines, were elected on manifesto promises to progress this idea and as long as those that abandoned their party and its principles haven’t also abandoned their manifesto then we should be able to move forward with this.
“We do need some clarity though – the Tory deputy leader stated prior to the election that the plans were retrograde, nonsensically referring to their privatisation of the sector as a success story. The new Tory Leader must immediately clarify whether he agrees with this stance.”
