By Steve Bargeton, political editor

ACCUSATIONS OF hypocrisy rang round Holyrood last night after MSPs voted not to scrap Tay Road Bridge tolls—but backed another review.

Before them was a straightforward motion by the SNP calling on Parliament to remove the tolls on the Tay—but Liberal Democrat and Labour MSPs who have repeatedly called for the Tay tolls to go, voted to have another look at the impact of the tolls on both the Tay and Forth bridges.

By 63-48 with two abstentions, MSPs backed an Executive amendment for “an examination of the economic, social and environmental impact and cost of retaining or removing tolls from the Tay and Forth bridges, on Fife and Dundee”.

In a Courier survey of Fife and Tayside MSPs this month, three Lib Dem and six Labour MSPs said they favoured abolition of the Tay tolls.

They were: Lib Dems Andrew Arbuckle, Iain Smith, Mike Rumbles, Labour MSPs Scott Barrie, Helen Eadie, Marlyn Glen, Marilyn Livingstone, Christine May and Kate Maclean. But at the vote only Ms Maclean abstained on the amendment that killed off the motion to scrap the tolls.

SNP, Scottish Tory, Scottish Green and the Scottish Socialist MSPs all voted against the Executive amendment.

Last night SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said, “If only those nine Labour and Liberal Democrats who said they were committed to abolishing the tolls on the Tay had voted as they had said, we would have won.”

SNP and Tory MSPs poured scorn on the plan for yet another review as nothing more than an excuse to get Labour and Lib Dem backbenchers off the hook. They accused Labour and the Lib Dems of “cynically” using the tolls issue for political gain at the Holyrood elections in May 2007.

On March 1 transport minister Tavish Scott announced the findings of an 18-month review of tolls on the bridges that concluded that they go on the Erskine Bridge over the Clyde but remain on the Tay and the Forth. He made it clear to angry MSPs at the time that the decision, which had cabinet approval, was final.

“All that I can say is that we have had a lengthy process that involved the tolled bridges review and the position is that which the review has concluded,” he said.

But yesterday, just 29 days later, Mr Scott was back on his feet in the chamber arguing the case for another review, saying he accepted there was “an economic impact of a tolling regime.”

“It is appropriate to fully and comprehensively interrogate that impact,” he said. “We will take forward a full economic analysis of the impact that tolls and congestion have on local people, business and the wider Scottish economy.”

He was challenged by Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser to provide details of this fresh inquiry. “Who is to carry out this review? How much will it cost, who is going to pay for it? And when are we going to hear its determination?” he asked.

But last night the Executive was unable to provide any detail.

A spokesman said, “The position is, as the minister said in Parliament, this will be a complex and rigorous exercise. Any change to existing policy must be based on facts. We will take forward a full economic analysis of the impact tolls and congestion have on local people, business and the wider Scottish economy.”

In a heated debate, SNP and Tory MSPs called on those Lib Dem and Labour backbenchers who are on record calling for the abolition of the Tay tolls to stand up and be counted and poured scorn on the plan for yet another review as nothing more than an excuse to get Labour and Lib Dem backbenchers off the hook. And they accused the coalition parties of “cynically” using the tolls issue for political gain at the Holyrood elections in May next year.

Summing up, the SNP’s Tricia Marwick said the amendment could be paraphrased as: “We the Labour and Liberal Democrat Parties are the government of Scotland. We have the power now to remove the Tay and Forth tolls but have decided not to do so.

“However, there is an election next year and in our manifestos we will promise to remove the tolls. If you vote for us, then the Tay bridge tolls will be abolished.”

She added, “They will have to explain why motorists on the Tay will have to pay tolls for an additional year, then vote in the same government that kept the tolls in the first place.”

After the vote, furious Tory and SNP MSPs accused Lib Dem and Labour MSPs of “hypocrisy”.

Mid Scotland and Fife Tory Ted Brocklebank said, “The position of Iain Smith and Andrew Arbuckle is incredible. They boast about wanting to take the tolls off the Tay and when it comes to a vote they bottle it. It is rank hypocrisy.”

SNP counterpart Bruce Crawford said, “I am disappointed beyond belief at the actions of Lib Dem and Labour members who said they wanted to see the tolls come off the Tay. You cannot trust these people to stand up and be counted.”

Dundee East SNP MSP Shona Robison said, “It is absolutely outrageous that MSPs who made public statement about the Tay tolls failed to act on their pledge to the public when it comes to a vote.”

Tory Murdo Fraser said, “This is a disgraceful betrayal of the people of Tayside and Fife.”