Fair ferry funding chucked overboard, says McArthur

Responding to the Scottish Government's budget announced today, Orkney's MSP Liam McArthur said:

"In the face of soaring inflation, fuel, and maintenance costs, John Swinney is proposing a real terms cut to support for Orkney's internal ferry services. This can only result in the delivery of these lifeline services becoming even more difficult and precarious.

"SNP Ministers previously accepted the principle of fair funding for Orkney and Shetland's internal ferry services, but that promise now appears to have been chucked overboard.

"Meanwhile, Mr Swinney is promising more talks with OIC over the replacement of the ageing ferry fleet. That’s all very well, but we’ve been hearing that from Ministers for years. With public safety now flagged as a risk, island communities in Orkney desperately need and deserve to see ferries procured, built and put into service. Mr Swinney and his colleagues cannot keep kicking the can down the road."