Scottish Labour leader Murphy under fire for ScotRail proposal
THE SNP has hit back at Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy’s proposal that ScotRail would become nationalised if he becomes first minister.
Murphy had proposed a new “People’s ScotRail”, as part of a devolution settlement put forward by the Smith Commision, which will allow public, non-profit organisations to bid for a franchise.
However, a spokesperson for Scottish transport minister Derek Mackay said the proposal was “yet another Murphy mess-up.” Mackay said: “Non-profit organisations can already bid to run Scotland’s railways – indeed, the Scottish government invited such bids for the new franchise but none came forward.” A Scottish government spokesman said: “Westminster legislation left us with the absurdity of being allowed to accept bids from overseas nationalised railway companies, but not from any UK public sector organisation.”