So-called 'green' SNP Government buys diesel pickup trucks despite vowing to phase them out

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.1 finding

It has made virtue-signalling statements about phasing out the sale of petrol and diesel cars in Scotland as soon as 2030. But the SNP ’s eco credentials have taken a hit with revelations that the Scottish Government has forked out more than £200,000 on six pickup trucks and a minivan which use fossil fuels . Six Ford Ranger pickups were first registered in September last year while a Mercedes-Benz nine-seater passenger minibus was registered in April.

The government’s fleet currently stretches to 182 vehicles and costs around £1.5 million a year to run. Scottish Tory energy spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘The SNP’s green posturing is exposed as rank hypocrisy when they’re still splashing taxpayers’ cash on brand-new petrol and diesel vehicles. Taxpayers are entitled to know that all alternatives have been fully considered. ‘ John Swinney must ensure his Government’s green ambitions are matched by sensible spending decisions and value for money.’

The Scottish Government bought six Ford Rangers that are powered by petrol or diesel despite vowing to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 The Scottish Government defended the purchases, saying that at the time the vehicles were bought, ‘no suitable electric or plug-in hybrid alternatives were available that could meet operational requirements’. However, it went on to buy more eco-friendly versions of the same vehicles within a matter of months.

Five plug-in hybrid electric models of the Ford Ranger were registered to the Scottish Government fleet in March. The six Ranger pickups, which start at around £30,000, and the minivan, which typically costs upwards of £40,000, will have racked up a total bill of more than £200,000. The Scottish Government said the Rangers are used by staff working in its marine, agriculture and rural economy departments. Meanwhile, the Marine Directorate uses the minivan to tow a trailer with equipment for Scotland’s ‘sea-going fleet operations’.

A spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Government remains fully committed to phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles from its fleet wherever possible. On occasion, operational requirements cannot be met by electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.’

Read the original article on dailymail.com

What we found (1)

The Daily Mail reports that the Scottish Government bought six diesel or petrol Ford Rangers and a minibus despite a pledge to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles, and it carries the government's defence. In its own voice it mocks the government's climate commitments as 'so-called green' and 'virtue-signalling', which tells the reader how to judge them before the facts arrive.

Dismisses climate action with a label
Minor
“So-called 'green'”
Why this matters
The headline uses 'So-called' and puts 'green' in scare quotes in the Mail's own voice, not in a quotation from anyone.
The impression it gives
A reader is told from the first words that the Scottish Government's climate commitments are fake.
The context
The body reports seven vehicle purchases that the government says were made because no suitable electric alternative existed. It also reports that the government later bought plug-in hybrid versions of the same vehicle. Nothing in the article shows the wider commitment is a sham.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“no suitable electric or plug-in hybrid alternatives were available that could meet operational requirements”
- Elsewhere in the article“Five plug-in hybrid electric models of the Ford Ranger were registered”
Show it in the article
“virtue-signalling statements”
Why this matters
The Mail calls the 2030 phase-out pledge 'virtue-signalling statements' in its own voice, in the opening line, before any opposition politician is quoted.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the policy commitment to be empty posturing rather than a stated target.
The context
The article itself reports that the government remains committed to phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles from its fleet and has bought plug-in hybrid replacements. The verdict of 'posturing' belongs to the Scottish Tories in S5, but the Mail adopts it as its own.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“remains fully committed to phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles from its fleet”
- Elsewhere in the article“The SNP’s green posturing is exposed as rank hypocrisy”
Show it in the article

What it gets right

“The Scottish Government defended the purchases, saying that at the time the vehicles were bought, ‘no suitable electric or plug-in hybrid alternatives were available that could meet operational requirements’.”
The Mail gives the government's own explanation for the purchases rather than leaving the accusation unanswered.
“Five plug-in hybrid electric models of the Ford Ranger were registered to the Scottish Government fleet in March.”
It reports the later switch to plug-in hybrids, so the reader can see that the fleet did move towards cleaner vehicles.
“the Rangers are used by staff working in its marine, agriculture and rural economy departments”
It explains what the vehicles are used for, which lets the reader weigh the operational case for them.

Spot something we missed? Report this article

More from Daily Mail

Everything we scored from Daily Mail

So-called 'green' SNP Government buys diesel pickup trucks despite vowing to phase them out

Dismisses climate action with a label

What it gets right

More from Daily Mail