Islanders will not be fooled by Swinney in "full on panic mode"

Responding to John Swinney's announcement of a package of support for Scotland's islands, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Argyll and Bute, Alan Reid, said:

"This is John Swinney in full on panic mode.

"I have spent the past four days on Mull and Iona talking to voters and they are furious about their ferries being out of action time and time again.

"John Swinney has had almost two decades to deliver for coastal and island communities. Making promises in the 11th hour of the 19th year of SNP government will not convince anyone.

"This week has delivered the first poll showing Scottish Liberal Democrats ahead of the SNP in Argyll & Bute. I suspect their doorknockers will be discovering similar things in Shetland, in the Western Isles and up and down the West Coast.

"From launching vessels with painted on windows, failing to deal with cancellations, and putting in place an inadequate compensation scheme, the Scottish Government has shown it cannot be trusted with this essential transport infrastructure.

"With our plan for a rolling replacement plan for Scotland's ferries, Scottish Liberal Democrats will deliver change with fairness at its heart and end the SNP's ferry fiasco.”