Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has declared that transport problems affecting Scotland's central belt, if they mirrored the ongoing ferry disruption, would constitute a "national scandal." During a campaign visit to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, Mr Sarwar unveiled plans to establish a new ferries agency aimed at streamlining operations and cutting bureaucratic inefficiencies.
Labour's Pledge for Island Communities
Speaking at the Stornoway ferry terminal, Mr Sarwar emphasized his commitment to addressing the persistent issues plaguing Scotland's ferry network. He argued that islanders should not have to tolerate substandard services, drawing a stark comparison to mainland transport.
"If this was a train service between Glasgow and Edinburgh, it would be fixed by now," Mr Sarwar stated. "It would be a national disgrace and a national scandal, and people would not be tolerating it. Why are we asking islanders to tolerate this mess?"
Proposed Agency to Merge CalMac and CMAL
The proposed ferries agency would merge operator CalMac with the ferry procurement body Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL). This consolidation is intended to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and improve service delivery. Additionally, the new body would include representatives from island communities on its board, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes.
Mr Sarwar highlighted that his government would "get the basics right" by meeting the needs and aspirations of islanders. "We seek to meet the needs and aspirations of islanders," he said. "But, right now, that's simply not good enough and islanders see it every single day."
Unprecedented Pressure on Ferry Services
The announcement comes amid what has been described as "unprecedented" pressure on CalMac's services. In the past week alone, eight of the operator's vessels were out of service at various points, exacerbating delays and disruptions for island communities.
Mr Sarwar's visit to Stornoway underscores Labour's focus on rural and island issues ahead of the election. He reiterated his determination to fix the ferry network's problems through the new agency, guaranteed representation for islanders, and a procurement process tailored to their needs.
"I'm not willing to do that and that's why we'll fix this mess by delivering a new ferries agency, by guaranteeing representation for islanders and by having a procurement process that meets the needs and aspirations of islanders," he concluded.
