Idi Amin comparison ‘ludicrous’ says Swinney

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The spat began with the First Minister’s speech to SNP conference on Saturday, where he proposed re-regulation to bring buses under “public control.”

Despite the plan falling short of public ownership, McGill’s Buses co-owner and Labour Party donor Sandy Easdale claimed it was an attempt to seize businesses and compared Mr Swinney to both Robert Mugabe and Idi Amin.

“I thought the language was completely over the top,” said Mr Swinney.

“We work well with the bus industry on concessionary travel, on a £2 bus fare cap, and I think the language that we heard at the weekend is really more than a bit ludicrous.”

Responding to the First Minister, Mr Easdale appeared to double down. 

“Field marshal Swinney appears to be unusually sensitive about my recent remarks,” he said.

“This looks to me as if Mr Swinney should think before pronouncing his edicts.”

He added: “I genuinely look forward to sitting down with Mr Swinney and discussing the matter.”