JOHN Swinney has called for the Labour Party to nationalise Great Britain’s railway system in full if it forms the next UK Government.
The SNP leader officially opened the Levenmouth rail link in Fife on Wednesday, and called for Labour to follow Scotland’s lead on public railway ownership.
Swinney said he wants to see Network Rail – currently an arms-length public body – to be placed under ministerial portfolio, with its assets in Scotland devolved.
Further, he wants to see companies running services in England and across the Border brought under state ownership.
The Scottish Government has brought ScotRail into public ownership, delivered new rail lines and stations and is piloting the removal of peak fares.
Swinney said the SNP will force Labour to the left at Westminster – and urged them to end austerity with a major infrastructure investment package which will reverse cuts to Scotland’s capital budget imposed by the Tories.
He called for Labour leader Keir Starmer to “follow the SNP’s lead” by nationalising all rail services in Great Britain.
Swinney said: “The SNP’s record in government shows what is possible with a government operating from the left of centre – we’ve brought ScotRail into public ownership, invested in new infrastructure and taken action to drive down ticket prices, saving people hundreds of pounds during the cost-of-living crisis.
“This is the approach Keir Starmer must take in government rather than simply continuing with Tory austerity. He should commit to a significant infrastructure investment programme to reverse the cuts to Scotland’s capital budget and invest in the future.
“He needs to follow the SNP’s lead by taking rail services south of the border into public hands – and finish the job by nationalising Network Rail and cross-border services.
“Keir Starmer has spent his entire career running away from traditional left-of-centre values like public ownership – and taken left wing voters for granted by lurching to the right and adopting Tory policies.
“But we cannot afford more of the same – Westminster has inflicted austerity, Brexit and a cost-of-living crisis on the people of Scotland – and it is time for a genuine alternative.
“The SNP will push Labour to the left and demand that they are focused on Scotland’s values, meaning they can’t take Scotland or left-leaning voters for granted.”
Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray (above) said: “This is an embarrassing blunder from a First Minister with no clue and no ideas.
“While the SNP brushes up on the basics, Labour has a real plan to nationalise and modernise rail across the UK.
“Passengers in Scotland and across the UK deserve better than unreliable services, extortionate fares and Victorian infrastructure.
“Labour will deliver the change our railways need with a new publicly-owned GB rail company which will work hand in hand with a publicly-owned devolved ScotRail.”
