A SENIOR SNP politician has called for a review of the state-owned firm behind CalMac after the failure of the shipyard building two of its ferries.
Chris McEleny, the opposition leader on Inverclyde Council and a member of the SNP’s ruling national executive, put the idea in a letter to Financer Secretary Derek Mackay last night.
It follows the Scottish Government taking over Ferguson Marine Engineering in Port Glasgow last Friday after it was driven into insolvency by the £97m ferry contract.
Mr Mackay said he would nationalise the yard if no commercial buyer was found within a month.
The ferries were ordered by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), which owns the CalMac fleet.
READ MORE: Experts demand action to solve Scotland’s ferry crisis
Tycoon Jim McColl’s Clyde Blowers firm, which bought Ferguson’s out of a previous administration, blamed CMAL for a series of designs changes and delays which led to a 100 per cent cost over-run.
CMAL said Ferguson’s took on the work knowing it would be demanding.
Mr McColl is now considering resigning as one of Nicola Sturgeon’s economic advisers.
READ MORE: Monday Interview: Ross sails into sunset after great whisky and ferry ride
Mr McEleny called for “all options to be on the table” including scrapping CMAL, which he accused of damaging interference.
He also asked for clarity on an “alarming” rumour that the full CMAL board threatened to quit if ministers didn’t back it in the fight with Ferguson’s.
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