McGill’s Owner Compares Swinney To Dictators As Group Condemns Bus Plans As ‘Business Confiscation’
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McGill’s Group co-owner Sandy Easdale has compared First Minister John Swinney to dictators Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe in a scathing response to his plans to bring Scotland’s bus network under public control.
The group, the UK’s largest independent bus operator, owned by Sandy and James Easdale, condemned the proposals as “business confiscation” and pledged to pursue every available legal avenue to protect the company.
Responding to the First Minister’s remarks at the SNP conference, Sandy Easdale said: “What has come over mild-mannered John Swinney? He appears to have transformed into the next Idi Amin or Robert Mugabe, both men, incidentally, who bankrupted their countries through catastrophic financial policies.”
Ralph Roberts, chairman of McGill’s Group, said: “The First Minister’s announcement threatens businesses built through years of private investment, hard work and commercial risk. McGill’s has never been publicly owned. There is nothing to ‘bring back’ into public control in our case.
“From our perspective, removing a company’s ability to operate the network it has built and putting those services out to competitive tender amounts to business confiscation. Ministers would not contemplate treating hotels, supermarkets or clothing retailers in this way. When the Scottish Government intervened at Prestwick Airport and Ferguson Marine, it bought those businesses rather than removing their ability to trade.
“There are also serious questions about the cost to taxpayers. Our assessment, carried out by independent economists, is that a franchised network in Strathclyde could require an additional
£400 million each year. Ministers must explain how such a commitment would be funded and what passengers would receive in return.
“Greater Manchester’s projected net cost of around £226 million for its franchised bus network in 2025/26 should prompt serious scrutiny before Scotland commits to a similar approach. Changing who controls routes and fares does not remove the cost of running buses.
“At McGill’s, passenger revenue covers more than 95 per cent of our operating costs in Strathclyde. The Scottish Government should be working with operators to build on that commercial strength, encourage investment and tackle the congestion that makes services slower and more expensive to operate.
“Our owners have invested substantially in growing this business and improving services. They have the resources and determination to defend what they have built and are prepared to pursue every available legal avenue to protect it. Ministers should be in no doubt that any attempt to strip away that business will be vigorously resisted.”
About McGill’s
McGill's Group has depots in Greenock, Inchinnan, Johnstone, Dundee, Larbert, Balfron, Livingston, Aberdeen and Inverness. In late 2020, McGill’s purchased Xplore Dundee from National Express and in September 2022, it acquired First Scotland East, Midland Bluebird and Big Bus Edinburgh. McGill’s prides itself on delivering high quality customer service and invests heavily in new vehicles, driver training and development. The company has three in-house driver training academies in Johnstone, Dundee and Falkirk. McGill’s has a number of community and charity partnerships including with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and holds an Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. The company is also accredited as an Investor in Young People.
In 2022, McGill’s Group was named Public Transport Operator of the Year award at the Scottish Transport Awards. In June 2024, at the Scottish Transport Awards in Glasgow, McGill’s chairman Ralph Roberts received a special lifetime achievement award recognising his outstanding contribution to transport in Scotland.
McGill's Bus Service Limited is registered in Scotland (SC027238).
Sandy and James Easdale have a wide range of business interests spanning transport, manufacturing, commercial property and land investment. The Easdale family owns McGill's Group, the largest independent UK bus operator. Previously serving Glasgow, Inverclyde, and the west of Scotland, McGill's Group expanded east in 2020 when it purchased Xplore Dundee from National Express and in 2022, bought First Scotland East and Bright Bus Tours.
The brothers are also spearheading major property developments, including a 130-acre site at the former Tullis Russell papermill in Glenrothes and plans for a data centre at the 70-acre former IBM site in Greenock. They are also driving forward the redevelopment of the iconic former Watt Brothers store at the heart of Glasgow.
Sandy and James Easdale were named in The Sunday Times Rich List 2026, placed at 112 in the UK wealth list.