Dundee-based list MSP Marlyn Glen was among the rebels who went against the Executive and voted to abolish Scotland’s last remaining tolls.

She said today, “I am greatly disappointed that the injustice of tolls across the Tay and Forth Road bridges remains.

“The argument that tolls somehow help to ease congestion in Dundee city centre has already been rejected in a report prepared by officials of Dundee City Council.

“The campaign for a better deal for motorists in the Dundee and Tayside area goes on.”

In a day of drama in the capital, the rebellion failed to commit the Parliament to ending bridge tolls, with the motion for abolition defeated by 65 votes to 58.

An Executive amendment that linked the tolls to plans for a new Forth crossing and called for the abolition of tolls to be “considered” was defeated by 66 to 56 with one abstention.

A Green amendment calling for variable “smart” tolls was defeated by 117 votes to seven.

Tay Road Bridge Joint Board chairman and Dundee Lord Provost John Letford described the vote as “a disappointment but not a surprise”.

He said reason had not triumphed on this occasion, but he firmly believed the tolls would eventually be removed from the Tay crossing.

Mr Letford dismissed as “rubbish” the argument by transport minister Tavish Scott that removing the tolls would lead to increased congestion and poorer air quality in Dundee.

He said traffic modelling carried out in Dundee by officials of the city council showed that would not happen and, in fact, congestion would be reduced.

Dundee SNP councillors Jim Barrie and Nigel Don, who are both members of the Tay bridge board, said they were extremely disappointed at the result of the vote.

Acting chief executive of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce Harry Wills said the decision was a “missed opportunity” and that the tolls were “a tax on jobs and businesses not shared by other parts of the Scottish economy”.