The Scottish National Party (SNP) government faces calls to specify when it will implement a manifesto pledge to cap bus fares at £2 across Greater Glasgow and the west of Scotland. The commitment, made by John Swinney during the pre-election campaign in April, promised that the fare cap would be introduced within 100 days of the party’s re-election.

Swinney, who serves as Deputy First Minister, outlined the plan to extend the existing £2 fare cap—already applied in the Highlands and Islands—to include Glasgow, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, and Inverclyde within this timeframe. The 100-day target would place the implementation deadline around August 16, counting from the Holyrood election on May 8.

However, Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn appeared to distance himself from this specific timeline during a session with Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) on Friday. He stated that he did not acknowledge August 16 as a firm deadline and emphasized that progress on the policy would continue “as quickly as we possibly can,” without committing to a definitive date.

The delay and lack of clarity have drawn criticism from opposition politicians and industry representatives. Paul Sweeney, Scottish Labour MSP for Glasgow, urged Flynn and the SNP to honour their election promise. “Glaswegians have been paying the highest bus fares in the UK for too long, so they deserve clarity on when the fare cap will take effect,” Sweeney said.

Bus operator McGill’s, which provides services in Glasgow and Inverclyde, echoed concerns about the feasibility of the rapid rollout. Ralph Roberts, chairman of McGill’s Group, remarked that introducing such a comprehensive fare cap requires extensive planning, consultation with operators, and assurance of sustainable funding. Roberts noted that the Scottish Government’s acknowledgement of the complexities surrounding the policy aligns with the company’s long-standing position that detailed preparations are necessary before implementation.

The SNP has yet to provide a detailed timeline or outline the measures necessary to establish the fare cap across the wider region. Transport Scotland has been approached for comment regarding the policy’s status and expected rollout schedule.