Greene: SNP ferry crisis engulfing west of Scotland

Scottish Liberal Democrat Jamie Greene MSP has today said that the SNP’s ferry scandal is “engulfing” the west of Scotland, as CalMac’s new summer timetable shows many services are set to face further disruption.

CalMac have now published their summer timetable, which shows that services will be amended for Arran, Mull, Coll, Tiree & Colonsay, Barra & South Uist and Little Minch during March and April.

The timetable also outlines ongoing vessel overhauls, with the MV Alfred, MV Loch Frisa and MV Hebrides not expected to return to service until April.

The MV Isle of Lewis is not expected to return to service until the end of May.

Jamie Greene said:

“The SNP's ferries scandal has engulfed practically every island and coastal town across the west of Scotland.

“With Easter and summer just around the corner, island tourism is wholly reliant on ferries which run. The SNP have thrown the network into complete chaos and for that failure alone, they do not deserve a single vote in rural or island Scotland.

“None of this is the fault of the hardworking staff at CalMac, who are just trying to make the best of a rotten hand dealt to them by the SNP. Like islanders, businesses and taxpayers, they deserve better than endless mess.

“Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats have laid out plans for a new ferries bill to guarantee vessels are built on time and within budget. You can vote for those plans by backing us on your second, peach, regional ballot paper in May.”