TWO general election hopefuls have thrown their weight behind a move to nationalise Inchgreen Dry Dock and Clydeport - but the pressure group push has been snubbed by the leading candidates.

The Campaign to Save Inchgreen Dry Dock last week called for Inverclyde’s general election contenders to agree to promote and support their Scottish Parliament petition and the creation of a community trust to manage a nationalised Inchgreen.

The pledge has since been signed by Alba Party’s Chris McEleny and Scottish Liberal Democrats candidate Ross Stalker.

However, the campaign have confirmed that the pledge has not been signed by Labour candidate Martin McCluskey, SNP candidate Ronnie Cowan, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party candidate Ted Runciman or Reform Party candidate Simon Charles Wheeler Moorehead.

Speaking in support of the pledge, Mr McEleny said: “The Alba Party recognises the determination and drive of the Campaign to Save the Inchgreen Drydock and their efforts to have this strategic facility become fully operational in its primary function as a shipbuilding and maintenance and repair part of a Scottish Maritime strategic partnership.

“Furthermore, we support the drive to bring the ports and harbours on the River Clyde into public ownership.”

(Image: Newsquest)

The campaign’s Scottish Parliament petition calls for the nationalisation of dry dock’s parent company, Clydeport, which is part of the Peel Ports group, and establish a municipal port authority on the Clyde.

Mr Stalker said: "I fully support the ambitions of the Campaign to Save Inchgreen Dry Dock and encourage members of the public to sign their petition, which is still taking signatures through the Scottish Parliament's website - you can find it under reference PE2029.

"At our 2020 Conference the Scottish Liberal Democrats called for the nationalised Ferguson Marine to be restructured into a not-for-profit public company, and for it to bid on the Ministry of Defence's Fleet Solid Support construction programme, enabling it to purchase Inchgreen dry dock.

“Sadly, the Scottish Government's plans for Ferguson Marine were not so ambitious.

"Though events have moved on a bit since then, it's still very clear from the anti-competitive behaviour of Peel Ports that the private sector cannot be trusted to manage the waterfront infrastructure in the best interests of the community or the wider economy.

“Clydeport must be nationalised, and the River Clyde managed by a municipal authority rather than corporate interests."

(Image: Scottish Liberal Democrats)

SNP candidate Mr Cowan, who has been Inverclyde’s MP for the last nine years, did not sign the pledge, but said more value had to be extracted from the facility.

He said: "I am aware of plans that will revitalise the dry dock and surrounding area and I would not wish to jeopardise that in any way. 

"But we do need to extract more benefit from this asset.

"We have seen £11 million invested in the marine park and that holds enormous promise to bring highly paid jobs and knock-on benefits and opportunities.

"There is scope for the renewables sector, oil and gas, biofuels, food processing and a number of other areas.

"In recent years Peel has invested in the facility.  

"I have challenged the Labour council's record for the entire duration of my tenure as MP. 

"Deals were done years ago by the Labour council that were not in the best interest of the citizens of Inverclyde and we have paid the price.

"I have made that known to councillors and council officers.

"Inchgreen is an underutilised asset that needs to be brought back to life."

(Image: Ronnie Cowan)

Labour candidate Mr McCluskey highlighted recent investment in the site, which he said would create jobs for the area.

He said: “If elected as the MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, my priority will be to get as much investment into the Inchgreen site as possible, and to make it a productive asset for Inverclyde with hundreds of jobs.

“Already, over £11 million has been invested in the site to make it ready for new tenants and I’m confident we will see results from this soon.

“I will work with anyone who wants to bring jobs to Inverclyde and to give people here the prospect of high quality and well-paid jobs.

“Inchgreen has massive potential to take advantage of the increase in work in renewable energy that is coming to Scotland.

“Decisions made by both governments have seen too much of that work flow to the east coast.

(Image: Newsquest)

“I will continue to make the case for investment in Inverclyde and the west coast of Scotland.

“The next Labour government will also establish a National Wealth Fund to invest in industry, including our ports.

“I will make the case for Inverclyde to get its share of this funding so we can continue to expand our ambition to be a centre for marine industries.

“We have so much potential in Inverclyde and so many assets like the Inchgreen Marine Park.

“A future Labour government will back projects like this to make them a success.”