SNP faces hypocrisy claim over ferry service

The new SNP government yesterday faced claims of "dishonesty and hypocrisy" after vehicle services were axed on a west coast ferry route.

Opposition parties say the Nationalists had promised a ferry to "suit the needs" of the people on the Dunoon-Gourock route, but the new service will be passenger only.

Argyll Ferries, a subsidiary of state-owned David McBrayne, will take on the 10.6 million contract for the route over the next six years.

Duncan McNeil, Labour MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, said: "People here will be bitterly disappointed by this decision.

"This is the outcome I warned about before the election and the result my community feared, as it represents a significant loss of service."

Liberal Democrat spokesman Jim Hume said: "They have chosen to make this long-awaited announcement after the election which will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of people in the area who voted SNP.

"The people of Argyll and Bute deserve more from the SNP than dishonesty and hypocrisy."

The moves leaves rivals Western Ferries with a vehicle monopoly on one of Scotland's busiest ferry routes.

Infrastructure secretary Alex Neil said that a European Commission decision ruled out public subsidy to a passenger and vehicle service.

The new service will see operating hours expanded, with the last sailing from Gourock at 1am on Fridays and Saturdays and 10:40pm during the rest of the week.

Mr Neil said: "This bid is set to deliver real benefits for passengers with a larger boat and additional sailings, offering best value for money and protecting the majority of existing jobs."

He added: "We are disappointed not to be able to offer a vehicle and passenger service, however appreciate that under the EU decision this was not a viable option for tenderers."