By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE ROW over the future of a hovercraft link between Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh intensified last night when Central Fife SNP MSP Tricia Marwick called on Fife Labour MSPs to distance themselves from controversial remarks made by their colleague Lord George Foulkes.

Earlier this week bus giant Stagecoach announced it was putting plans for the service on hold until it received assurances over levels of public funding.

Naming no names, the firm accused politicians of using the project as a “political football.”

“Some politicians have put personal and party self-interest before the communities in Fife and Edinburgh,” said a Stagecoach spokesman.

Last month Lothians MSP George Foulkes raised questions about the relationship between the SNP minority Government and Stagecoach boss Brian Souter, who gave more than £500,000 to the SNP campaign for the Holyrood elections last May.

At the time Mr Foulkes said there were “serious concerns over the Government’s relationship with Stagecoach.”

“If the SNP wants to rise above any suspicion that there’s something dodgy going on, then there really should be a tender for the work,” he said.

But last night Mrs Marwick said that “smears, allegations and innuendo may have now cost Fife the most innovative transport project for generations.

“It is now time for Fife MSPs to stand up and be counted,” she said.

“They must condemn the unfounded smear campaign by George Foulkes against the SNP Government and Stagecoach.

“George Foulkes is a buffoon but other Labour politicians in Fife must speak out now against him or they stand condemned in Fife for being complicit in scuppering the hovercraft project.

“How dare George Foulkes smear the SNP Government in this way when it has been made clear that the Government has not even seen the business case for the hovercraft service.

“These smears will cost the communities of Fife and Lothian a new method of public transport.

“It is now time the Labour MSPs that still exist in Fife start distancing themselves from the comments made by colleagues like George Foulkes.”

Mid Scotland and Fife Labour MSP John Park said that he was not going to be drawn into a war of words over the issue.

“I have full confidence in the Government’s tendering procedures,” he said.

“But I am surprised at the Stagecoach decision. And I don’t think it had anything to do with the work George Foulkes has done in this area.

“It does look like it has been cooked up to me and I wonder what are the real motives.”

Fellow Labour Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Claire Baker also did not think Mr Foulkes’ remarks prompted the decision.

“I think that George Foulkes did ask legitimate questions,” she said. “I do not think that is what has led to the stoppage of this project.

“At the moment I just hope the political squabbling can stop and that Stagecoach get the guarantees from the Government on this important project for Fife.”