Labour MSPs Comment On Audit Scotland Ferries Report

23rd March 2022

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said:"The Audit Scotland Report evidences not just a catalogue of mistakes, but that the wrong choice was actively made time and time again with no ability to foresee consequences or listen to the risks even when they were presented by the Government's own quangos on a silver platter.

"From taking gold standard international contracts and removing the meaningful safeguards to refusing to listen to industry experts, the arrogance of this Government is astounding and the ones suffering are the communities affected.

"The Government needs to apologise to these communities immediately and start fixing this problem instead of trapping them in this loop of degrading fleets and infrastructure."

Commenting on Audit Scotland's new report on vessels 801 and 802 Scottish Labour's Transport spokesperson Neil Bibby said: "This is a damning report and ultimate responsibility for this nine-figure fiasco lies squarely with the SNP government.

"They have spent years trying to dodge responsibility and point the finger elsewhere, but right from start this has been driven by the SNP government's poor judgement and lack of leadership.

“Their relentless incompetence has left island communities waiting years for new lifeline ferries, taxpayers picking up an ever-growing bill, and Scottish shipyard workers fixing problems they didn't create.

“While Ministers have come and gone, the First Minister has been a constant presence throughout this fiasco. The First Minister must finally take some responsibility for the mess her Government has created, and set out a real plan for how they will stop costs spiralling, prevent any more delays and build a sustainable future for the yard and for Scotland’s shipbuilding industry."

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Ferries Fiasco Continues As Cost Spiral Higher and No Delivery Date Yet