Councillors dismiss bus sale speculation

The move comes after representatives from union Unite suggested that Lothian Buses was at risk after the city council struck a new agreement with umbrella body Transport for Edinburgh (TfE).

TfE, which also oversees the city’s trams, was given a wider remit to “integrate” the transport system last week.

Union members claim the development would lead to Lothian Buses subsidising other services or being sold off.

But councillors with a transport brief have now released a joint statement to “set the record straight”.

The statement, signed by the respective transport spokesmen and women of each political party, said: “The report agreed at last Tuesday’s transport and environment committee was about the relationship between TfE and the council, not about the ownership or day-to-day running of Lothian Buses.”