Outrage from Scottish Greens after free bus travel for asylum seekers scrapped

The Scottish Greens have condemned the government's decision to drop a scheme that gave asylum seekers free bus travel, calling the decision “shameful.” 

The Scottish Greens pushed for the introduction of the policy as part of the Bute House Agreement that took the party into government for the first time. Former first minister Humza Yousaf announced it would go ahead late last year. The commitment followed a long campaign by refugee-rights organisations and a successful pilot programme in Glasgow.    

However, it has now been scrapped.

“This is a shameful U-turn and a disgraceful decision,” Greens transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell said. “It is a broken promise to some of the most marginalised communities in our country and will only entrench the state-sanctioned poverty that people seeking asylum are forced into. Many have to live off around £50 a week to meet all their essential living needs.” 

In 2023 there were 5,323 individuals in receipt of support from local authorities in Scotland while they waited on the outcomes of their asylum applications. Asylum seekers are given somewhere to live and £49.18 per week on a payment card for food, clothing and toiletries. If an asylum seeker’s accommodation provides their meals, the payment card amount drops to £8.86 per week. 

“This decision will have a significant negative impact for people seeking asylum in Scotland, for some, it was a last ray of hope under such difficult and hostile policies,” said the Maryhill Integration Network, a charity that focuses on bringing refugees, asylum seekers and the residents of Glasgow together. “People in the asylum process cannot work, cannot access public funds and some live on as little as £1.36 per day.” 

Ruskell has called for First Minister John Swinney to reconsider the move “after breaking a promise to communities that are already marginalised, banned from working and forced into extreme poverty.

“It was a small and compassionate change that would make a big difference to the lives of people who are routinely punished by a hostile and racist system,” Ruskell said. 

The Scottish Government said: “People seeking asylum in Scotland who are currently eligible for free bus travel through the national concessionary travel schemes, including those under 22 and over 60 years of age and those with disabilities, will continue to be able to make use of their entitlement.

“We remain committed to supporting people seeking asylum, refugees and communities through the New Scots refugee integration strategy approach.

"We want to work collaboratively with the UK Government to contribute ideas that build on shared priorities and where possible provide evidence of impacts and needs.”