Gambling taxpayers’ money on a vague, unworkable idea’ by Sandy Easdale, Co-owner and Director of McGill’s Bus Group.

McGills owners the Easdales brothers blasted Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham for boasting about the performance of his franchised bus services which cost taxpayers £226m a year.

McGill’s Group, the UK’s largest independent bus operator, has issued the following statement after Strathclyde Passenger Transport voted to pursue bus franchising.