Is Anas Sarwar up for sale?
Scottish Greens Co-Leader Gillian Mackay has accused Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar of hypocrisy for accepting a six figure donation from billionaire bus owners, despite supposedly believing in public ownership of buses.
According to coverage in The Herald, the Easdale brothers have pledged a substantial six figure sum to Scottish Labour, with half paid immediately and the remainder dependent on Mr Sarwar delivering a more “distinctively Scottish” political direction for the party.
The brothers are among the wealthiest people in Scotland and have benefited directly from our broken transport system, while ordinary people face rising costs. They have made a fortune from the privatisation of bus services and have long-opposed bringing them back into public ownership.
In 2023 Anas said “It's time to help councils bring buses back into public hands so we can run services for people instead of profits and deliver the reliable, affordable services we need.” The Greens believe this position contrasts sharply with taking large sums from the Easdale brothers.
Scottish Greens Co-Leader Gillian Mackay MSP said:
“This is totally hypocritical from Anas Sarwar.
“The Easdale brothers have made a lot of money from the privatisation of bus services, a policy that Labour supposedly opposes. Will Anas Sarwar stick to this position?
“People across Scotland are fed up and angry watching the super rich getting even richer while ordinary folk struggle with rising living costs and failing services.
“If Labour are serious about rebuilding trust and improving public transport, it should hand this money back. Politics is about the lives and priorities of ordinary people and families, not those with the deepest pockets.
“Anas says that there were no policy demands, but if the Easdales brothers have said that half the money is only released if they are happy with the direction of travel, that is a problem. Politics should not work like that, and it doesn’t have to.
“When the super rich are lining up behind parties, people are right to ask who this system is really working for.”
Letter Text:
Gillian Mackay MSP
Co-Leader, Scottish Green Party
20/01/2026
Anas Sarwar MSP
Leader, Scottish Labour
Dear Anas,
I am writing following the reports that Scottish Labour has accepted a substantial six figure donation from Sandy and James Easdale, with the payment split into two parts and conditional on you delivering a more “distinctively Scottish” political direction for the party.
You have previously said that no policy demands were made in connection with this donation. However, the reporting implies that political conditions are attached, and that creates understandable concern about influence and access.
Many people already feel disconnected from politics and see decisions being made far from their communities. If wealthy individuals are able to attach conditions to large donations behind closed doors it leaves people feeling scunnered and angry, and with good reason.
As you know, the Easdale brothers own McGill’s Buses and have been vocal opponents of bus franchising and greater public control of services, the very services you claim to want to put back into public hands.
In 2023 you said “It's time to help councils bring buses back into public hands so we can run services for people instead of profits and deliver the reliable, affordable services we need.” Is this still your position?
At a time when Scotland’s bus network is failing too many communities, taking conditional funding from major private operators risks undermining confidence in Labour’s commitment to reform.
People want politics done differently. They want decisions taken in the open, for the common good, and without strings attached.
I am, therefore, in the interest of transparency in our politics, asking you to:
- Confirm the total value of the Easdale donation and the full conditions attached to it
- Confirm whether further payments are expected and on what basis
- Confirm if you still support public ownership of local bus services for people instead of profits
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Gillian Mackay
Co-Leader, Scottish Green Party