Scottish football fans will have a chance to express their anger about the "draconian" plans to restrict supporters' buses after a Scottish MP launched a campaign to stop the measures from going ahead.

Labour MP Ian Murray has started a petition which calls for the Traffic Commissioner's proposed guidelines to be put in the bin. The Shadow Scotland Secretary, who used to be chair of the Foundation of Hearts supporters group, has also written to the UK and Scottish Governments asking them to intervene.

It comes after the UK Government published a consultation document from the Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain which proposes restrictions on supporters travelling to games in Scotland. The guidelines include curbs on where buses can park, would restrict pub stops and ban picking up fans from unauthorised locations without police permission.

Murray has asked Tory Scotland Secretary Alister Jack and SNP Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop to "immediately stop these draconian and unnecessary proposals and rethink it entirely before going any further."

He said the plans were a "demonisation of football fans" and would "destroy football supporters' buses". Murray said: "The proposals put forward by the Commissioners are totally inappropriate, counterproductive and amount to a demonisation of football fans.

"These proposals have been universally condemned by the Scottish FA, the SPFL and the SWPL as well as the Scottish Football Supporters Association and individual supporters’ clubs of many football clubs in Scotland.

"The reality of these proposals would in effect destroy football supporters’ buses. As we try to meet our net zero obligations, it seems absurd to hinder one of the most common ways of reducing carbon emissions – thousands of people travelling on self-organised buses rather than taking individual car journeys.

"The proposal that buses will not be able to stop at pubs on the way to games would further harm the hospitality industry – an industry already struggling after 15 years of Conservative and SNP governments overlooking them.

"I would add that Police Scotland already has the powers necessary to deal with issues of disruptive behaviour on or around football supporters buses. I am writing with a simple request – you immediately stop these draconian and unnecessary proposals and rethink them entirely before going any further.

"It is a proposed solution desperately seeking a problem to solve."

The proposals would mean that bus companies must tell a dedicated football officer the number of supporters expected to travel, the number of vehicles booked and the name and contact number for the person who made the booking 48 hours before the game.

Buses would be prevented from stopping anywhere within 10 miles of ground without police permission and would not be allowed to stop at any pub for a beer unless it is sold with a substantial meal.

They would also be unable to drop off or pick up fans at unauthorised locations without prior police permission and would only be allowed to arrive at the venue no earlier than two hours before and not later than one hour before the start of the game.

The voluntary guidelines fall within the power of the UK-wide Traffic Commissioner.

The commissioner is independent of the UK Government, and it is its role to decide if the guidelines are proportionate and necessary.

The proposed restrictions were slammed by football bosses, fans and politicians on Tuesday.

A joint statement issued on behalf of the Scottish FA, Scottish Professional Football League, and Scottish Women’s Premier League on Tuesday said: “There's no evidence that this is a significant problem in Scottish football. We are concerned by the targeted nature of these proposals, which serve to demonise football fans and interfere unnecessarily in people’s lives.

“In Scotland, there are already appropriate powers held by Private Hire Vehicle operators, Police Scotland and other partners to deal effectively with a very small number of incidents by a minority of fans.

“The consultation itself notes that the majority of football fans are law-abiding and do not cause any disturbances when travelling to or from games, yet these proposals would unfairly affect the vast majority of football fans who travel safely and respectfully to and from matches on a weekly basis.

“We don’t support these unnecessary and heavy-handed proposals and we will be making our views clear in the consultation.”

Murray's petition is available online.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “We understand the strength of concerns from football fans in response to the independent Traffic Commissioner consultation on proposed voluntary guidelines for supporters’ buses.

“We recognise concerns about the necessity and scale of these proposals, and it is vitally important that fans’ views are taken into consideration.”

First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “They have come without any consultation with the Scottish Government, and as far as I can see, the Scottish football clubs.

"My minister, Maree Todd, will be writing to the UK government and to the traffic commissioner of Great Britain to understand where these ludicrous proposals have come from.”

The Record understands Maree Todd has now written to Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt and copied in the Cabinet Office.

The letter described the proposals as "unworkable" at any time but especially given the "current, positive circumstances” in which the national game finds itself.

She added: “The proposals are not workable, and frankly, are an insult to Scottish football fans."

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