Commenting on the Transport Secretary’s remarks that building a railway to connect Glasgow Airport to the city would have provided minimal benefit to Scotland’s economy and would have had virtually no impact on cutting traffic or greenhouse gas emissions, Liberal Democrat Glasgow MSP Robert Brown, a leading opponent of the cancellation, said:

"The SNP's decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link came as a bitter blow to Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

“This attack by the same Transport Minister who confirmed – indeed boasted - only weeks before, that the GARL project was on track is really quite pathetic. The Transport Minister, who was sidelined during the decision and the debates on it by the Finance Secretary, has launched this ridiculous attack to try and save face on what everyone knows was a very poor decision.

“It is time the Transport Minister and the SNP Government stopped defending the indefensible and actually listened to the views of the stakeholders involved and put their time and effort into discussions as to the basis on which this vital project can now proceed.

“Contrary to what the Transport Minister believes, the GARL would have created 1,300 jobs and cut down traffic congestion considerably on the M8. It is estimated that it would have delivered £3.14 million per annum in tourism and leisure.

“Liberal Democrats want to see a full and frank discussion on the possibility of other funding avenues for GARL. The SNP should at last admit that they got it wrong and work to get this project reinstated.”