Four wheels bad, two wheels good. Except when four wheels is the top prize in the SNP raffle, it seems.

At a fringe meeting hosted by the British Lung Foundation, warnings about the damage pollution from cars is doing to our children were listened to intently by Michael Matheson, Transport Secretary and two councillors form Scotland’s two biggest cities.

The trio told the room what they were doing about pollution and offered encouragement that they were taking action.

Walking, cycling and buses were the future we were told. People need to get on board with the message the day of the car being top dog in the city were over.

Mr Matheson said: “In the transport policy there is a hierarchy of transport options. The first option for short trips should be walking, cycling or public transport.

“The next phase is the Transport Review. The direction of travel for government is reduce car use in city centres and overall.”

All sounded good. Action was being taken, leadership being displayed.

But no-one told the conference raffle organisers.

Minutes later, in the time it takes you get your cycling clips on, Conference Chair, Kirsten Oswald was opening the afternoon session.

First up, the draw for the raffle.

Third Prize - £1000. Second prize £2000.Tidy sums.

Then the big one, the top prize. A car. What? Another car on the road?

Those things you want to see fewer of?

Yes, a brand new car. I half expected it be a new model I’d never herd of, a Climate Hypocrisy maybe.

No, it was a Peugeot 208. At least it wasn’t a Rolls Royce Ghost.

Then minutes later again, during the First Minister’s speech, Nicola Sturgeon made a policy announcement.
Ms Sturgeon said: “We want people to walk and cycle more too, reducing our carbon footprint and improving our health.”

I’m afraid the raffle sort of reduced the statements to waffle.