Campaigners call on Yousaf to reconsider his decision to drop transport Cabinet post

Scotland’s new first minister Humza Yousaf has been urged by campaigners to reconsider his decision to drop the transport portfolio from his Cabinet.

The downgrade of transport as a government priority comes despite growing anger at the deteriorating condition of Scotland’s roads, the failure to upgrade key routes and delays in building new ferries.

Nicola Sturgeon’s Cabinet included the post of Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, which was held by Michael Matheson.

But announcing his Cabinet on Wednesday, Yousaf announced Màiri McAllan would be the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, with transport dropped from her title.

Scotland has had a transport minister since devolution, including Yousaf between 2016 and 2018. However, as a junior minister, they do not attend Cabinet meetings where key decisions are made.

Kevin Stewart is the new Transport Minister – the seventh in a decade. Island communities are facing severe travel disruption due to disruptions to ferry services caused by the ageing CalMac fleet, a lack of spare vessels and delays to building new ferries.

South Uist will not have a ferry service to the mainland for several weeks due to the shortage of vessels.

Meanwhile, Arran will have no extra ferry capacity over the Easter holidays, with the return of the MV Caledonian Isles delayed yet again and the MV Isle of Arran, with half of the capacity, left to cope alone.

Sam Bourne, chairman of the Arran Ferry Action Group, said: “Arran is open for business but the challenge is a massive capacity restriction on the ferry service.

“There’s just simply not enough spaces for the bookings that have been made.

“Transport no longer being a Cabinet post does not give us the confidence that it is being taken seriously at government level.

“It is also disappointing that we now have our seventh transport minister in 10 years. To be fair to Jenny Gilruth, she spent a lot of time trying to understand the problems and I believe she was slowly making progress. Now we have to go through the same progress again with a new transport minister.

“Transport is so fundamental to every aspect of life in Scotland that we should have a cabinet secretary for transport and a minister for railways, a minister for roads and a minister for ferries.”

Last month the Scottish Government admitted it will miss its target of 2025 for completing dualling of the A9 between Inverness and Perth.

Thirteen people died in car crashes on the section of road between the two cities last year.

Highland-based safety campaigner Laura Hansler from The A9 Dual Action Group said: “MSP Rhoda Grant said missing the 2025 target was a total betrayal of the Highlands.

“I think it’s worse than that. I think it is shows complete and utter disrespect to the families who are grieving for those who were killed on the road. Many have said to me their loved ones would still be alive if the road had been dualled.”

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She added: “There’s a feeling that the Scottish Government is not taking transport north of the Broxden roundabout in Perth very seriously at all.

“I think the decision the Scottish Government has made about the transport portfolio is a very concerning. It’s sending out the wrong signal.”

The A83 Rest and Be Thankful road is regularly closed by landslides, forcing motorists to make lengthy detours and causing chaos for the tourism industry.

John Gurr, chairman of The Rest and Be Thankful Campaign, said: “We are concerned that transport has been downgraded, especially as its so important to a rural economy.

“We have been waiting for a solution to keep a two-way road open for the past three years and hope that Kevin Stewart continues to deliver the promise made by Jenny Gilruth for a permanent solution to be announced in the spring.”

The £1.35 billion Queensferry Crossing that replaced the Forth Road Bridge in 2017 has been hailed as one of the triumphs of the SNP government.

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But Neil Greig, policy and research director of road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said: “The problem is the Queensferry Crossing seems to have taken up so many resources that work on other projects – the A9, A96 and the A720 Sheriffhall roundabout – has stopped and we’re having to live with the congestion all the time now.

“On top of that, we have a growing problem of potholes. The local roads network that is run by councils is in chaos and decaying very fast.

“It certainly doesn’t feel like transport is a priority anymore.”

The Scottish Government said: “We remain wholly committed to delivering our vision for transport, for which ultimate responsibility still lies with a cabinet secretary.

“The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition has overall responsibility for transport and delivering the Scottish Government’s commitment to reducing emissions from transport.

“The Cabinet Secretary will be supported by a dedicated Minister for Transport, a role which has existed in various forms since devolution in 1999. The Minister for Active Travel will also continue to have transport-related responsibilities.”