Greer names price for backing SNP

THE Scottish Greens have named free bus travel for everyone under 30 as their price for supporting the SNP's next Budget.

- BY PAUL HUTCHEON

Party co-leader Ross Greer said extending the flagship policy would be a cost-of-living lifeline for young people.

The Greens and the SNP made buses free for under-22s when the parties shared power from 2021. But the Bute House Agreement collapsed two years later and negotiations have since been on a case-by-case basis.

First Minister John Swinney's government will unveil its pre-election Budget on January 13 - and the horsetrading has begun.

With the UK Government scrapping the two-child benefit cap, more than £100million has become available to the Scottish Government.

Greer said extending free buses would cost £105million and tackle the climate crisis.