MSPs unite to condemn airport charge

The planned £1 drop-off charge at Edinburgh Airport is "an insult to our wallets", Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown claimed during a debate in the Scottish Parliament.

He told MSPs: "It will just be a matter of time before this 1 went up to something else."

Politicians from all parties united in condemning the new charge, due to come into effect at the end of next month.

Lothians SNP MSP Ian McKee said "This objectionable tax must be opposed with all the vigour at our disposal.

"It is being unilaterally imposed without consultation.

"The reason BAA feels it can get away with this is because it knows it has a monopoly.

"There needs to be far greater regulation of what the company owning the airport can and cannot do."

Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MSP Margaret Smith said the charge was unfair and unnecessary and would hit older and disabled passengers.

She said: "There are also people from all over Edinburgh and the Lothians who do not have direct public transport links to the airport, so they have to be dropped off in a car. They should not be penalised."

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson acknowledged the strength of feeling aroused by the proposed charge and said he hoped "people outside the chamber" had been listening to the debate.