They are at the vanguard of moves to clamp down on driving, setting up Scotland’s first Low Emission Zone, lavishing millions of pounds on cycle lanes and even speaking of a vision to make their city centre ‘car free’.
However, none of this has stopped the two top SNP politicians in Glasgow from making dozens of car trips of their own last year – all of them funded by the taxpayer.
Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren made more than 160 such journeys at a total cost of £4,417 – including 50 trips to and from her home, typically costing around £10 to £20 each.
Her travel expense claims also show she used the car to get to the city’s Loon Fung restaurant, claiming a total of £27, and for a trip between the trendy Butterfly and Pig restaurant and her home at a cost of £18.
The Lord Provost also had £460 paid in relation to her ‘annual parking charge’ and claimed for three taxi journeys.
Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren claimed more than £4,000 for car travel
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken
Meanwhile, council leader Susan Aitken, who said in 2021 that she wished for part of the city centre to become ‘entirely car free’, filed for 40 car and taxi journeys, including trips to her home in the city and other official jaunts.
That included £12.60 for a car journey to Hampden Park and a £16.20 claim to drive to Glasgow University in the city’s West End.
Ms Aitken also used taxis to get to other destinations including the city’s Sheriff Court, costing £11.50, and to Glasgow Airport, costing £29.50, for her £1,079 taxpayer-funded flight to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt for the COP27 climate conference in November 2022.
The sums are revealed in travel expense claims for the politicians from 2022 to 2023.
The council, Scotland’s largest, has a fleet of cars available to transport senior elected members.
A cost, in addition to the cost of the vehicle, is assigned to their use on a journey-by-journey basis, and is filed as a ‘travel expense’ for the member using it or being driven.
Last night campaigners for fairer treatment of motorists said the car journeys showed ‘hypocrisy’ on the part of politicians.
Brian MacDowall, spokesman for the Alliance of British Drivers, said: ‘What this shows is that these individuals recognise that cars are a convenient, practical and safe means of getting around, but that this applies only to them, and not to ordinary people.
‘It is absolute hypocrisy to lead a charge against cars while still using them – taxpayer-funded – for their own journeys.
‘Cars are practical for carrying larger or bulky items if you go shopping, or for transporting children, while other methods of transport, such as bicycles, unfortunately are not.’
Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Daniel O’Malley said: ‘Council leaders need to be careful about racking up bills for car and taxi journeys, and this is doubly true when they are introducing measures which will hit ordinary motorists in the pocket.
‘This also perhaps reflects the damage that the SNP have done to Scotland’s bus network, with the number of journeys taken having fallen by almost a third since 2011.’
He added: ‘A big part of this is due to the present system which is not affordable, reliable or joined up.’
In 2021, Ms Aitken stated that she wanted to make central Glasgow ‘entirely free of cars’, adding: ‘Part of that is wanting to change behaviour, to get people to use public transport to get into the city differently.’
The council has also sparked chaos and dismay among businesses and commuters with its Low Emission Zone, brought in last summer despite the emissions which it claims to reduce already being within legal limits.
The scheme has seen thousands of older cars banned from the city centre and £3 million in fines have been issued in just nine months.
The council is also building a network of cycle lanes which are estimated to cost tens of millions of pounds.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: ‘Attendance at events and meetings will and does necessitate travel by car at times for elected members who represent the council.’
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