Swinney proposed regulating the country’s network, allowing local partnerships to determine routes, fares and timetables.
A row has broken out between John Swinney and McGills boss Sandy Easdale with the First Minister branding comments comparing him to a dictator “ludicrous” and Mr Easdale swiping back with a “field marshal” jibe.
During his speech to the SNP conference, Swinney proposed regulating the country’s network, allowing local partnerships to determine routes, fares and timetables.
But within hours, Sandy Easdale – one of the co-owners of prominent bus firm McGill’s – compared him to Robert Mugabe and Idi Amin, claiming the policy was an attempt to seize businesses.
On Monday, the firm’s chairman Ralph Roberts said the company was prepared to fight the plans in court.
Swinney said on Tuesday: “I thought the language was completely over the top.
“What I’m interested in doing is protecting and promoting the public interest, which is in having bus services that met the needs of individuals.
“It will be delivered through an approach to franchising and regulation, which will ensure that the bus network is under the control of the public interest and to ensure that we have services that meet the needs of members of the public.
“I want to make sure we have a reasoned and considered engagement with the bus industry about these issues.
“We work well with the bus industry on concessionary travel, on a £2 bus fare cap, and I think the language that we heard at the weekend is really more than a bit ludicrous.”
Pressed on whether he will defend the policy in court – which could push implementation beyond the 2031 date set in his speech on Saturday – the First Minister said: “I think we’ll just leave the rhetoric to another day.
“I’m focused on making sure the public interest is protected.
“The Government always has to act in a lawful fashion, that is exactly what we do and we’ll take forward our policy objectives to protect the public interest over bus services in the way that I’ve set out and by engagement with the sector.”
Responding to the First Minister, Sandy Easdale said: “Field marshal Swinney appears to be unusually sensitive about my recent remarks.”
He added: “This looks to me as if Mr Swinney should think before pronouncing his edicts. Is he now admitting it could be well beyond 2031?”
Mr Easdale also took issue with Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth pointing out that the brothers made a six-figure donation to Scottish Labour before May’s election.
He said: “His deputy Jenny Gilruth could reflect on her remarks that I was a Labour donor and that’s why I am upset.
“As Mr Swinney says, we should all be careful about our language.
“My opposition to this ill-thought-out plan cuts across party lines.
“I genuinely look forward to sitting down with Mr Swinney and discussing the matter. Up until now, nobody in government has approached the bus industry or my team.”