LibDem Willie Rennie, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Derek Mackay.
Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Willie Rennie has today called for Derek Mackay to be brought to parliament to answer questions on who signed off key decisions relating to Ferguson Marine and the two ferries that it is constructing.
Willie Rennie said: “If we are to take the First Minister at her word, it was Derek Mackay and Derek Mackay alone who signed off on deals which are set to cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions more than originally scheduled.
“It is awfully convenient for Nicola Sturgeon that the latest scandal threatening to beset her government can be neatly blamed on someone who has since departed politics.
“Derek Mackay should appear before parliament to give his side of the story and confirm whether it is true that the First Minister and the rest of her cabinet had no input into the decision to take over Ferguson Marine. Island communities have been let down and deserve answers.”
Derek Mackay was the Finance Secretary in the SNP who is alleged to have signed off the documents for the ferries’ contract. He resigned and ran away the night before he had to present an SNP budget to the Scottish Parliament and was swiftly replaced by Katie Forbes.
Oh dear Wee Willie Waste of Space running off at the mouth again. Does he ever do anything constructive.
The policy of getting Scottish ferries built in Scottish yards supporting Scottish jobs, and the economy was an excellent thing to do. In many ways similar to privatising Prestwick Airport where the airport supports some very highly skilled aircraft maintenance and repair jobs.
A much better option than putting people on the dole, deskilling our community,instead foreign yards where the latest two ferries are now being built in Turkey. But this is what the opposition Labour, Tory and Lib Dem’s have been screaming for.
But shutting down Fergusson Marine and Prestwick with the loss of high skill aircraft maintenance is not the only thing our Nu Labour and Tory oppose. Maybe someone should ask them why on the £5bn Seagreen windfarm being built off the coast of Arbroath the absolutely huge steel jackets, all 114 of them, are being built in Dubai and China. Better it seems to shut down Scottish yards and give the work to other countries. At least with oil we built the rigs – but hey ho Tory corporate interests prevail. Who cares about Scottish jobs when we can all buy burgers.
Anyway, it all comes on top of the biggest reduction in living standards for 300 years now underway. Better Together or the fabled Brexit Bonus. Suck it up folks, it’s all yours, we voted for it.
At least Wee Willie’s in a job!