Ferries boss says contract was awarded for 'political capital'

Former shipyard owner Jim McColl has claimed it was Keith Brown who signed off on the controversial ferries contract, not disgraced former MSP Derek Mackay.

Last week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was accused of throwing Mackay “under a bus” when she said it was a “matter of public record” that he had been transport minister at the time the contract was signed.

Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, McColl claimed that the SNP had launched a "propaganda campaign" against the management of Ferguson Marine which was done for "political purposes."

He said Mackay “was not available at the time to sign off” the contract. 

“I believe it was Keith Brown at the time who signed it,” he said. 

McColl said that had he known that Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) had advised against the Ferguson shipyard being awarded the contract, he would not have gone ahead with the deal.

McColl said: “Had I known they were strongly opposed to it I would not have taken it on. How can you work with a buyer when it does not want you to be there?

"So that to me was the revelation that something had gone amiss there, now I don't agree that we were not fit for purpose because I think we're a very good team and would have completed those contracts."

An Audit Scotland report last week said there had been “multiple failings” which have prevented two new ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides routes being delivered on time and on budget.

In particular, it criticised a “lack of transparent decision-making” after CMAL officials warned ministers against continuing with the award after it became clear Ferguson Marine could not provide a refund guarantee.

The vessels are now expected to cost £240m (2.5 times more than the original price tag) and will be five years late.

Sturgeon has previously denied McColl’s claims that the decision to award the now delayed and overbudget ferry contract was rushed through without the usual safeguards for political reasons.

However, McColl doubled down on his claim, saying: "Absolutely I believe this, it's now clear from what has been uncovered by Audit Scotland, and not just Audit Scotland, there has been some former SNP ministers who have come out and said yes, it was a big issue at the time for it to be announced before their annual conference, the first one that Nicola Sturgeon was first minister at and then the following year you had the election.

"So this was all for political capital in my mind, when you look at the evidence with hindsight and it's thanks to Audit Scotland that this has all been uncovered. And there's more to it."

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.