ALBA depute leader Kenny MacAskill has handed in a model of a CalMac ferry to the First Minister at Bute House, urging she “must not scuttle the Scottish fleet”.
The East Lothian MP was joined by Inverclyde councillors Jim McEleny and Chris McEleny in the wake of Scottish shipyard Ferguson Marine being overlooked for a ferry contract, with overseas shipyards in the running instead.
MacAskill said: “Recent events have shown just how precarious the future of Ferguson has become with CMAL failing to allow the yard to even bid for the Islay ferries. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
“The yard has a skilled and committed workforce but it is now time for the Government to show the same commitment as the workers at the yard.
“Therefore, along with local representatives councillor Jim McEleny and councillor Chris McEleny, I am handing in a model of a CalMac ferry to the First Minister as a stark reminder of exactly what is at stake – Ferguson Marine at Port Glasgow and the future of shipbuilding on the lower Clyde.”
“Unless the Scottish Government and the First Minister face up to their responsibilities and start directing CMAL to place orders with Ferguson, including the Gourock-Dunoon replacements and small isle ferries, then all that will be left of our proud shipbuilding tradition will be plastic models.
Jim McEleny said: “Inverclyde badly needs investment. There are many interconnected factors that result in the levels of deprivation we suffer from. The Scottish Government has the power to directly award contracts to our area. Not only would this support jobs at the yard, it would be the foundation to attract more investment to the area and create even more jobs.”
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