Keep Clyde and Hebrides ferry services in public hands

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has attacked the SNP for failing to support the campaign to keep CalMac’s Clyde and Hebrides ferry service in public hands.

Kezia Dugdale has travelled by CalMac ferry to Arran today to talk to business leaders on the island and carry out a number of visits. While on Arran Ms Dugdale will tour a number of local businesses, including Arran Aromatics and the Isle of Arran distillery.

Ms Dugdale also criticised SNP MSPs for their failure to sign a Scottish Labour motion backing a campaign organised by the RMT union whose members are employed by the ferry operator.

Kezia Dugdale said: “We need a guarantee from the SNP Government that these vital services will remain in public hands.

“The ferry industry not only provides valuable jobs for people on the islands, they are a lifeline for local businesses bringing in goods and tourists.

“CalMac doesn’t just provide a ferry service they also engage with the local communities that they serve and that support for local events is worth thousands of pounds, money that would be at risk if the service was privatised. Over the past two years they’ve also returned just under £4 million to Transport Scotland, which proves this is a profitable route.”

Ms Dugdale highlighted a report from the Fraser of Allander Institute which estimated that CalMac ‘s support for island tourism enabled 3247 jobs, worth around £53.4 million in wages.

An economic impact study carried out by the RMT supported the claims that there was an economic benefit to the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service staying in public hands.

Scottish Labour’s Transport spokesperson David Stewart, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has also exposed the SNP Government’s failure to use European legislation which would prevent the need for the Clyde routes to be put out to tender.

The Scottish Labour leader added: “Last November, the SNP voted against Labour’s call to halt the CalMac privatisation process, despite previous promises they would not put the services out to tender.

“Not one SNP MSP attended the briefing held by the RMT when they published their study in Parliament this week and not one SNP member has signed Labour’s motion. The SNP cannot pretend they are trying to save CalMac services when clearly they are not.

“It’s not too late to act. The SNP Government could suspend the tender process while they investigate the European situation and they could guarantee the Clyde and Hebrides services will not be privatised.

“Those who live on Arran and the other islands deserve to know these vital services are safe.”

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