The policy will be central to the Greens’ Budget negotiations with the SNP.
The Scottish Greens have named free bus travel for everyone under 30 as their key ask for supporting the SNP Government’s Budget in January. Here is what you need to know.
- The Scottish Government introduced free travel for under-22s in 2022. Children and young people have now made over 250 million free bus journeys. It was a policy the SNP/Greens jointly authored when they were in Government together.
- The SNP Government will introduce its draft budget in January. John Swinney’s minority administration needs the support of another party and the Greens have often been the kingmaker.
- .The Greens have a policy of making all bus travel free. New leaders Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay believe rolling it out to under 30s is the next step.
- The Greens claim the policy will cost just over £105m and will help young people. Greer said: “Too many workers in their 20s are trapped in a cycle of ever-rising costs and insecure work, with far too many struggling to cover their rent and bills every month. Lowering the cost of public transport is a win-win for people and planet.”
- What is the SNP Government’s response? They say they will engage with all political parties.
- READ MORE: Free bus travel for everyone under 30 is top Budget demand for Scottish Greens
