Churches call on MSPs to back free bus travel for asylum seekers

Churches have banded together to urge MSPs to avoid pitting vulnerable groups in society against each other and recommit to providing free bus travel for asylum seekers.

The call comes as the Scottish Tories plan to force a vote in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday on the Scottish Government’s plans to extend free bus travel to asylum seekers.

The policy was brought back in the Budget last week, having previously been scrapped as a savings measure.

The Church of Scotland and the Scottish Catholic Church have issued a joint call to MSPs to back the policy, raising concerns attempts to do otherwise are coming in the name of older people because of winter fuel payment means testing.

The churches urged MSPs to “resist attempts to divide our society, and instead show support to people who have come to Scotland seeking sanctuary and new beginnings”.

Emma Jackson, Church of Scotland Public Life and Social Justice Group convener, said: “I would really urge all our politicians to use language which upholds human rights and human dignity for everyone in our society.

“The racist violence and riots we saw over the summer pitted communities against one another.

“While our political leaders may robustly disagree about particular policies, we look to them to use language that is anchored in dignity, respect and compassion for everyone.”

Jill Kent, Justice & Peace Scotland chairperson, said “the encouragement and solidarity we can show in our political debates to those who find themselves on the margins is as important as ever”.

MSPs voted in October to support the return of the scheme by 68 votes to 27 with 20 abstentions in a debate brought by the Scottish Greens.

Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy previously called on MSPs to back their move to block the policy and said only his party is “on the side of the public” on the issue.

He said: “The SNP and the other left-wing parties at Holyrood are completely disconnected from Scots and believe this policy is the right thing to do. We disagree.

“The £2 million earmarked to dish out free bus passes to asylum seekers would be better off giving thousands of Scots pensioners a winter fuel payment right now.”

Scottish Greens social security spokesperson Maggie Chapman earlier accused the Tories of “using the rights of people seeking asylum as a political football”

She said the change is “small and compassionate step that will make a big difference to the lives of people who have been forced into state-sanctioned poverty”.

Ms Chapman added: “(The Tories) are using the rights of people seeking asylum as a political football.

“It is a transparent attempt to fan the flames of hate and division in a bid to win far-right votes from Reform.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said previously: “Extending free bus travel to people seeking asylum would support those who receive very limited support for living costs from the UK Government while waiting for an asylum decision, enabling them to access essential services and to contribute to their local community.

“This is set out as part of the 2025/26 Scottish Budget which delivers record investment to improve our NHS, provides universal winter heating support for pensioners, puts in place the mechanism to end the impact of the two-child cap and increases investment in housing to deliver at least 8,000 new homes.”