Editing Brian Souter (section)

===Donations to SNP and other political parties===

Souter was a major financial supporter of the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP). In March 2007, he donated £500,000, citing an imbalance of funding within Scottish politics.<ref name=snpdonation>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6462119.stm |title=UK &#124; Scotland &#124; Stagecoach tycoon donates to SNP |work=BBC News |date=17 March 2007 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> He stated that it was his intention to redress an imbalance in funding: "as long as I can remember, the case for the union has been hugely financed by cash from London, while the case for independence has lacked resources. I hope my donation will help redress this imbalance".<ref name=herald>{{cite web |author=Paul Hutcheon |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/souter-jumps-back-on-snp-bandwagon-with-pound-1-2-m-donation-1.827366 |title=Souter jumps back on SNP bandwagon with £1/2 m donation |publisher=Herald |date=17 March 2007 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> Following the donation, SNP leader [[Alex Salmond]] was criticised for "pandering to homophobia" by accepting the donation.<ref name=herald/> Salmond thanked Souter for his support, calling him "one of the outstanding entrepreneurs of his generation".<ref name=herald/> One month later, in April 2007, the SNP's commitment (made at the party's 2006 conference) to re-regulate the bus network was dropped from the 2007 manifesto, although the SNP denied any direct link.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=539&id=621242007 |title=SNP under attack after bus U-turn - Edinburgh, East & Fife - Scotsman.com |publisher=Business.scotsman.com |date=23 April 2007 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>

In February 2011 Souter again pledged financial support for the SNP, promising to match every pound they raised with a donation of up to £500,000. Announcing his support he said Salmond and the SNP deserved a second term in office.<ref name=scotlandonsunday>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/163_500_000_war_chest_for_alex_salmond_1_1493699 |title=£500,000 war chest for Alex Salmond - News |publisher=Scotsman.com |date=12 February 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="Brian Souter Video Announcement">{{cite web|url=http://www.briansouter.com/brian-souter-news/brian-souter-announces-his-n10148-s11.aspx |title=Brian Souter Announces His Donation To The SNP |publisher=Briansouter.com |date=13 February 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> The SNP won a resounding victory in the election with Salmond being returned unopposed as First Minister.<ref name=snp>{{cite news|last=Black |first=Andrew |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13426524 |title=BBC News - SNP leader Alex Salmond re-elected as first minister |website=bbc.co.uk |date=18 May 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>

The [[BBC]] reported in August 2014 that Souter had donated £1 million to the campaign for [[Scottish independence]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28774942|title=BBC News - Scottish independence: Sir Brian Souter donates £1m to SNP|work=BBC News|date=13 August 2014 |access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref> Since Nicola Sturgeon became SNP leader in November 2014, Souter has made no further donation, but in December 2014 he gave £3,500 to the [[Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)|Lewes]] branch of the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14846292.major-snp-backer-sir-brian-souter-has-not-donated-to-the-party-under-sturgeon/ |title=Major SNP backer Sir Brian Souter has not donated to the party under Sturgeon |author=Paul Hutcheon |date=6 November 2016 |newspaper= Herald |access-date=2 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/150330/150330.pdf|title=The Register of Members' Financial Interests: Session 2014-15: Norman Baker|publisher=House of Commons|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref>

In 2023, Souter aided Humza Yousaf’s government to organise a dinner between government and businesses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-04 |title=Scotland’s ruling SNP woos tycoon who shunned Nicola Sturgeon |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/scotlands-ruling-snp-woos-controversial-tycoon-who-shunned-nicola-sturgeon/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> [[Patrick Harvie]], the [[Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights|Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights]] stated "what has to be really, really clear is that not just my party, but the Scottish Government, does not share the values of Brian Souter.".<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCall |first=Chris |date=2024-01-06 |title=Brian Souter blasted by Government minister over 'vile' Keep the Clause campaign |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/brian-souter-blasted-scottish-government-31815294 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}</ref>