First Minister John Swinney says Edinburgh Council must take the lead on its transport projects, but even before the election the SNP is already calling the shots, writes Herald columnist John McLellan When is a local project not a local project? When it comes to public transport, the answer appears to be whenever First Minster John Swinney says it isn’t, if an interview in this week’s Edinburgh Evening News is to be believed.

As the conversation was with the much-respected veteran reporter Ian Swanson, and there has been no contradiction or clarification, its veracity isn’t in doubt. And although the election result wasn’t known when this column was submitted, not even the muggiest of mug punters were putting money on John Swinney finding the Bute House locks changed this morning, so what he said is government policy.

Like the election outcome, the contradictions in the First Minister’s positions seemed clear, picking and choosing what can be supported and what the SNP will or won’t allow.

The main thrust was that as Edinburgh’s two tram schemes, neither cheap, were purely local so it was up to the local authority to find the funding. The Scottish Government would “engage”, which presumably meant let transport officials give Edinburgh Council the benefit of their opinions, but if it’s money they’re after they can whistle.

“I'm very happy to engage with the city council about what their aspirations may be, but this is a local transport project. The government has a pretty comprehensive range of national projects it will take forward,” he said, a clear steer his government’s transport wonga would go elsewhere.

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