Lorna Slater's private Rum ferry cost taxpayers £1,200 as decision labelled 'utterly tone deaf'

Green minister accused of ignoring the plight of islanders

Scottish Green minister Lorna Slater has been slammed as “utterly tone deaf” after it was revealed a private boat charter she took cost 16 times more than it would have to travel on a regular ferry.

The circular economy minister and her team were criticised after being spotted taking a private catamaran to the Isle of Rum to discuss the future of Kinloch Castle on May 12.

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It has now been revealed using the private MV Larven from Mallaig to Rum cost the taxpayers £1,200.

Circular Economy Minister Lorna SlaterCircular Economy Minister Lorna Slater
Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater

Had the group paid for return tickets on the regular CalMac sailing instead, it would only have cost £75.20.

Graham Simpson, the Scottish Conservatives’ transport spokesman, said confirmation of the costs was a “kick in the teeth” to Scotland’s island communities.

Islanders are still waiting on the new MV Glen Sannox and Hull 802 to set sail. The vessels are still languishing in Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow, over-budget and woefully behind schedule.

And this comes only a day after the Government was criticised as CalMac sailings from Lochboisdale to South Uist have been cancelled for almost the whole of the month of June. This is because the MV Lord of the Isles is needed elsewhere on the ferry network.

The private sailing cost 16 times more than it would have to sail on a regular CalMac ferry.The private sailing cost 16 times more than it would have to sail on a regular CalMac ferry.
The private sailing cost 16 times more than it would have to sail on a regular CalMac ferry.

Mr Simpson, who is a Conservative MSP for Central Scotland, said: “Lorna Slater clearly has no shame.

“The Government she’s a member of has created mayhem on Scotland’s ferry network through their incompetence, and yet she thought it appropriate to shun a CalMac ferry at less than a tenner a head return, to shell out £1,200 of public money on a chartered boat to take her and her team to Rum.”

Mr Simpson said it was the “height of hypocrisy” for Ms Slater to call for better public transport in Scotland when she wouldn’t use it herself. He said: “It’s utterly tone deaf to the plight of islanders, who have to make do with a pitiful ferry service.”

At the time officials said taking the private boat would “maximise” Ms Slater and her team’s time on Rum and had supported a small local business.

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