Maybe the Fringe has started four months early, judging by the comic debate over the proposed expansion of Edinburgh’s tram system between Labour, the Lib Dems and SNP hopefuls.
In particular, it takes a special sort of cynicism for the Lib Dems to accuse the SNP of electioneering for their opposition to both digging up the Roseburn Path and the mad suggestion of running a line over the Dean bridge and down Orchard Brae, when there is not a cat in hell’s chance of the Lib Dems supporting either.
And it’s just as vicious for Labour to be so casually dismissive of opposition from people living close to the Roseburn route, a part of the city which hasn’t voted Labour for years.
The SNP want to prioritise the other route to the Royal Infirmary while an alternative route is found, but alternatives, like the old plan to go further along the coast from Newhaven, have been dismissed as impractical.
In any case the SNP Scottish Government has ruled out any expansion, so it’s just as cynical for the local SNP to argue for any expansion knowing their Holyrood colleagues have already said no.
But there is no denying it’s a big issue, so why shouldn’t it be an election matter? The Conservative answer is quite simple. There isn’t any money for a tram to Granton by any route or to the Royal Infirmary for that matter, so abandon the whole thing and make our super bus services even better. There’s nothing cynical in that.
