Ferguson ferry inquiry looks set to be snubbed by Holyrood

Inverclyde Council chief executive Louise Long wrote to first minister Nicola Sturgeon requesting one after councillors voted for a full probe into the processes used by Scottish Government quango Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), which is based in Port Glasgow.

A motion by the Alba party — pointing out a finding by a Holyrood committee of 'catastrophic failure' in procurement of the ferries — was passed at a meeting of the full council last month.

Alba council group leader Jim McEleny said: "Despite there being a parliamentary inquiry, which was critical of all parties involved, there has been no-one held to account.

"With regard to Ferguson Marine, a turnaround director who earned in the region of £2m for 18 months, has been and gone with no visible signs of his impact.

"As for CMAL it's business as usual with no change of direction or improvement evident."

The motion came after billionaire businessmen and former Ferguson owner Jim McColl launched verbal broadsides at CMAL and the Scottish Government.

Mr McColl — who also wants a public inquiry — branded CMAL 'incompetent' and accused the government of engaging in 'inane propaganda' over the ferries farce.

The shipyard was nationalised by Ms Sturgeon's government in 2019 amid a bitter wrangle between Mr McColl's Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) and CMAL over vessel design changes.

Global risk management consultancy HKA says CMAL 'interfered in the design process' and 'involved itself in matters in which it had no right to do so'.

Ms Sturgeon was forced to speak publicly about the ongoing debacle last month after outgoing yard boss Tim Hair admitted that Glen Sannox and Hull 802 — already five years late — would be delayed indefinitely.

Up to nearly a thousand cables may need to be replaced on Glen Sannox after a survey of the ship — which was launched by the first minister — found that they are too short to reach equipment.

Ms Sturgeon told parliament last month that the cabling was installed by Ferguson Marine contractors in late 2018 and early 2019, under the previous regime.

She says the government is working closely with the yard to ensure the problem is 'rectified as quickly as possible and as cost effectively as possible'.

Asked by the Telegraph about the call for a public inquiry, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government stands firm on its commitment to the vessels, the workforce and the yard.

"The delivery of the vessels is critical to supporting the lifeline ferry network by adding two new badly needed vessels to the CalMac fleet.

"The Scottish Parliament decided, independently of the Scottish Government, that the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee (RECC) would conduct an inquiry.

"The RECC has completed a detailed scrutiny of these issues and ministers have considered and responded to the committee's findings.

"Ministers remain committed to transparency and we have proactively published large volumes of information on our website and evidence was provided to the inquiry as and when requested."

When we asked why the government is not committed to full transparency via a public inquiry, the government said it had nothing further to add to its statement.