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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Crunch vote due on transport plan | Crunch vote due on transport plan |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The Scottish government is expected to confirm its backing for a new Forth crossing later. | |
| The SNP administration faces defeat, however, over its opposition to trams and an airport rail link in Edinburgh. | The SNP administration faces defeat, however, over its opposition to trams and an airport rail link in Edinburgh. |
| The government is concerned they do not represent value for money, but Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats will vote to support them at Holyrood. | The government is concerned they do not represent value for money, but Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats will vote to support them at Holyrood. |
| Despite the move, ministers have previously indicated they may not be bound by parliamentary votes. | Despite the move, ministers have previously indicated they may not be bound by parliamentary votes. |
| Opposition parties want the trams - backed by the last parliament - to go ahead, on the proviso that any cost overrun would be met by the city council. | Opposition parties want the trams - backed by the last parliament - to go ahead, on the proviso that any cost overrun would be met by the city council. |
| The SNP have hunted high and low for a justification for their irrational opposition to Edinburgh's trams project and the Edinburgh Airport rail link Tavish Scott MSPFormer transport minister | The SNP have hunted high and low for a justification for their irrational opposition to Edinburgh's trams project and the Edinburgh Airport rail link Tavish Scott MSPFormer transport minister |
| They also want ministers to sort out problems with the airport rail link - identified by Scotland's spending watchdog, the auditor general, - before final financial commitments are made. | |
| The former transport minister, Tavish Scott, said the government lacked any good reason to abandon the projects, while Labour called on the minority administration to respect the will of parliament. | The former transport minister, Tavish Scott, said the government lacked any good reason to abandon the projects, while Labour called on the minority administration to respect the will of parliament. |
| "The SNP have hunted high and low for a justification for their irrational opposition to Edinburgh's trams project and the Edinburgh Airport rail link," said Mr Scott, now the Lib Dem finance spokesman. | "The SNP have hunted high and low for a justification for their irrational opposition to Edinburgh's trams project and the Edinburgh Airport rail link," said Mr Scott, now the Lib Dem finance spokesman. |
| "However, at the end of the day they still have no good reason to abandon these projects." | "However, at the end of the day they still have no good reason to abandon these projects." |
| Government motion | |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney said the Scottish government would listen to the transport debate "with great interest". | |
| He added: "We have made our position very clear in that we think there are better ways to spend £500m of public money. | |
| "The auditor general has identified a shortfall in this particular project and who is meant to fill that financial gap? | |
| "Obviously the government will take part in the debate with great interest and we will reflect on whatever conclusion is reached at the end of the day." | |
| MSPs will vote on a government motion in the Scottish Parliament, which notes the SNP's election pledge to scrap the two Edinburgh projects, as well as plans for an additional Forth crossing. | MSPs will vote on a government motion in the Scottish Parliament, which notes the SNP's election pledge to scrap the two Edinburgh projects, as well as plans for an additional Forth crossing. |