EAST Lothian's parliamentarians have accused former East Lothian Council leader Paul McLennan of the "worst type of political opportunism" over claims he misled Pencaitland and Ormiston residents on fares for a new bus.

The No 113 - run by East Lothian Buses, a new subsidiary company of Lothian Buses - starts on June 11, taking over from the X13 service which First is withdrawing. It will connect Pencaitland and Ormiston with Musselburgh and Edinburgh.

Labour's Iain Gray MSP and Fiona O'Donnell MP claim that Mr McLennan (SNP) had "categorically promised" at a meeting of village residents in May that the new service would have a flat fare of �1.40 - as is the case across the whole Lothian Buses network. However, passengers will pay a flat rate of �2.40 when travelling to and from Pencaitland and Ormiston on the 113.

Mr McLennan (pictured) hit back by saying there had been "no indication" in May that the service would cost more and accused Labour of "mistruths" regarding buses in East Lothian.

Mr Gray said: "Two days before the election Councillor McLennan stood in front of hundreds of residents of Pencaitland and Ormiston and categorically promised them a new Lothian bus service with a flat fare of �1.40. I am disappointed that my constituents will have to pay a higher fare than Lothian passengers in the city, but I am furious that the then council leader was prepared to blatantly mislead them in this way.

"These sorts of antics give politicians a bad name and he should apologise to the people of Ormiston and Pencaitland for misleading them." Ms O'Donnell added: "I was at the meeting and heard Mr McLennan promise a �1.40 fare with my own ears. This is the worst kind of political opportunism." But Mr McLennan said in a statement: "Lothian Buses had only indicated that same afternoon that they would be running the service commercially. There was no indication at that stage that they would be costing the service at �2.40.

"Perhaps what Iain Gray and Fiona O'Donnell should be comparing costs with is the First fare price which was �3.60 - [the new fare is] a saving of 33 per cent on the previous fare with First for passengers.

"They should explain how during the [recent local election] campaign they quoted mistruths regarding East Lothian Council bus subsidies being cut by �200,000 when they had increased by more than �250k (25 per cent).

"In addition, passengers should be aware that Iain Gray's pledge to re-regulate bus services would cost the council �20 million.

"The Labour Party also pledged to provide a bus service to every village in what they admitted was an uncosted manifesto they cannot provide." Ian Craig, managing director of Lothian Buses, said: "June 11 welcomes the start of East Lothian's newest bus service, operated by East Lothian Buses. Service 113 will run from Pencaitland and Ormiston to Edinburgh city centre and the Western General Hospital seven days a week running every hour with additional buses at peak times.

"There will be a simple fare structure that offers significantly lower fares than the current First bus ticket price.

"A single ticket will now cost �2.40, and a DAYticket will now cost �5 as opposed to �7.30. In addition, East Lothian Buses will offer a brand new RIDACARD season ticket that offers passengers unlimited travel on East Lothian Buses, all Lothian Buses and AIRLINK." Ralph Averbuch, chair of Pencaitland Community Council, said he was "relieved" but called for the council to "address what they are going to do about connecting up the various villages and communities around East Lothian".

First is carrying out a staggered withdrawal of 13 East Lothian services throughout June. All cancelled routes are being taken on by other bus companies and, while most will start immediately after First's withdrawal, some will be without services during a one to two-week handover period.