The SNP’s ferry fiasco is a very Scottish sham

‘As first minister I am ultimately accountable for every decision that the Scottish government takes,’ Nicola Sturgeon announced on Friday as she gave evidence to the Scottish parliament’s public audit committee. Scotland’s ferry procurement fiasco is being closely scrutinised, and the latest developments have put Sturgeon’s record under the microscope. 

In a performance reminiscent of her evidence session during the Salmond inquiry, the first minister spoke confidently, asserting several times that she was trying her best to be open – while dodging any actual accountability. It was classic Sturgeon. 

There have been accusatory murmurings that the Scottish government may have corrupted the ferry procurement process for political reasons. The charge was slapped down by the first minister, who ‘completely and utterly’ refuted any suggestion of political interference in the award of a now notorious contract that went to the Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow. The contract has, in short, been a disaster. Its aim was to provide two new ferries for government-owned CalMac Ferries.