£447,000 of public funds given in two severance deals

Unite the union has today (24 June) reacted furiously to reports that former senior managers at Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses have received hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money as part of severance deals. 

 

Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams Boards merged in late 2025 on the instruction of Edinburgh council creating a single board as part of Edinburgh’s wider transport reform programme. Sarah Boyd was appointed as its new chief executive to oversee the integration.

 

Unite understands documents will be presented to Edinburgh council tomorrow (25 June) formalising two severance deals as part of this integration process.

 

Lea Harrison, former managing director of Edinburgh Trams, who left his post at the end of January received a £327,000 “golden goodbye”. The payment was approved by the now‑disbanded Edinburgh Trams Board in August 2025. Harrison took up a new post as managing director of Blackpool Trams in March with a reported six figure salary.

 

In documents to be presented to Council, Unite further understands that Lothian Buses also authorised a £120,000 severance payment to its former engineering director.

 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These payments are an abuse of public funds. The money would have been far better spent on improving the transport network, and workers’ terms and conditions. It’s nothing short of a scandal, and action must be taken.” 

 

Unite believes that an urgent inquiry into these excessive severance payments must be initiated by Edinburgh council over the governance processes which allowed the misuse of public funds.

 

Unite industrial officer Lyn Turner said: “Serious questions arise about why such excessive golden goodbyes were authorised by both Edinburgh Trams and Lothians Buses. Where was the governance?"

 

"An immediate inquiry must be held by the council because it appears that there were no proper checks and balances in place. It's a disgrace, and the people of Edinburgh should be outraged."

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

 

For media enquiries contact: Andrew Brady on 07810 157922 or andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org  Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members.