Churches have banded together to urge MSPs to avoid pitting vulnerable groups in society against each other and to reaffirm their commitment to providing free bus travel to asylum seekers.

The call comes as the Scottish Conservatives plan to force a vote in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday on the Scottish Government’s plans to extend free bus travel to asylum seekers.

The policy was reintroduced in the budget last week, after being scrapped as a cost-saving measure.

The Church of Scotland and the Scottish Catholic Church have made a joint appeal to MSPs to support the policy, raising concerns about attempts to do otherwise on behalf of older people due to means testing for payment fuel in winter.

The churches urged MPs to “resist attempts to divide our society and instead show support for people who have come to Scotland seeking refuge and a new start”.

Emma Jackson, head of the Church of Scotland’s public life and social justice group, said: “I really urge all our politicians to use language that upholds human rights and human dignity to all members of our society.

“The racist violence and riots we saw this summer pitted communities against each other.

“While our political leaders may disagree strongly on particular policies, we expect them to use language rooted in dignity, respect and compassion for everyone. »

Jill Kent, chair of Justice & Peace Scotland, said “the encouragement and solidarity we can show in our political debates to those on the margins is more important than ever”.

MEPs voted in October in favor of returning the project by 68 votes to 27 with 20 abstentions during a debate launched by the Scottish Greens.

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy previously called on MPs to support their decision to block the policy and said only his party was “on the side of the public” on the issue.

He said: “The SNP and other left-wing parties in Holyrood are completely out of touch with Scots and think this policy is the right thing to do. We disagree.

“The £2m to hand out free bus passes to asylum seekers would be better off giving thousands of Scottish pensioners a winter fuel payment now.”

Scottish Greens social security spokeswoman Maggie Chapman earlier accused the Conservatives of “using asylum seekers’ rights as a political football”.

She said the change was “a small, compassionate step that will make a big difference to the lives of people who have been forced into state-sanctioned poverty.”

Ms Chapman added: “(The Conservatives) are using asylum seekers’ rights as a political football.

“This is a transparent attempt to fan the flames of hatred and division in an attempt to win far-right Reform votes. »

A Scottish Government spokesperson previously said: “Extending free bus travel to people seeking asylum would help those who receive very limited help to cover their living costs from the UK Government while they await a decision on asylum, allowing them to access essential services and contribute to their local life. community.

“This is part of the 2025/26 Scottish Budget which provides record investment to improve our NHS, provides universal winter heating support for pensioners, puts in place the mechanism to end the impact of the two-child cap and increases investment in housing to deliver at least 8,000 new homes.

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