2023 Calmac Ferry Crisis

[islaydarkblue]

They're now saying today that the completion of the two ferries especially the second one break their own financial rules so they're simply gonna overrule the financial tests. Obviously it's not but I would have put money on that being illegal.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...-west-65601324

It is now getting ridiculous with the Scottish Government.
In my opinion this overruling of their own financial tests is because the Scottish Government against expert advice at the time nationalised the Ferguson Shipyard in 2019.
Neil Gray said that building a new ferry would not be ready until 2027 yet there is no guarantee that 802 will be completed by then and in service on the Clyde and Hebridean ferry routes.

[Returnofrros]

Is there something that can be done to fix things? I think there is a mindset that harks back to the Thatcher years where the idea that Governments should not be responsible for the day to day running of public services. Privatisation was "invented". The principle was that the government would set the framework for the operators and hold to account the management of these privatised industries, should they fail to perform to contract.
I think it is strange that an avowed socialist/Marxist coalition in Holyrood are trying to operate the same system invented by Margaret Thatcher. The Deposit scheme for recycling bottles has been set up by creating a company to deliver the scheme. Its not possible to make Freedom of Information requests to this company, and I think the whole system of government we have in Scotland reeks of cronyism and corruption almost as much as Westminster.
Apologies for the digression but Calmac Ferries are a disgrace and an indication how our civil servants have completely failed to stand up to the Government minister responsible for making decisions about the Ferries.

Somehow it's now the Civil Servants plus the ruling political party versus the voters. No wonder Nicola is surprised by the feeling in the country about her. Nae buddie telt her. If only she had read Dundee Mad!

Surprised my arse, she knew she was HATED but knew there was not much anyone cud do.

[islaydarkblue]

Is there something that can be done to fix things? I think there is a mindset that harks back to the Thatcher years where the idea that Governments should not be responsible for the day to day running of public services. Privatisation was "invented". The principle was that the government would set the framework for the operators and hold to account the management of these privatised industries, should they fail to perform to contract.
I think it is strange that an avowed socialist/Marxist coalition in Holyrood are trying to operate the same system invented by Margaret Thatcher. The Deposit scheme for recycling bottles has been set up by creating a company to deliver the scheme. Its not possible to make Freedom of Information requests to this company, and I think the whole system of government we have in Scotland reeks of cronyism and corruption almost as much as Westminster.
Apologies for the digression but Calmac Ferries are a disgrace and an indication how our civil servants have completely failed to stand up to the Government minister responsible for making decisions about the Ferries.

Somehow it's now the Civil Servants plus the ruling political party versus the voters. No wonder Nicola is surprised by the feeling in the country about her. Nae buddie telt her. If only she had read Dundee Mad!

Freedom of Information requests are all very well but it takes 20 working days to receive reply assuming that the organisation being asked the question does not try to wriggle out of answering the question stating that it is too expensive to answer unless the person asking the question is prepared to pay the full cost.
Audit Scotland take 30 working days which is 6 working weeks to reply to an email sent to them which is ridiculous.
Unfortunately civil servants at Holyrood do as they are told by Scottish Government ministers even if it is wrong.
Yet another case of the blind leading the blind.

[islaydarkblue]

Surprised my arse, she knew she was HATED but knew there was not much anyone cud do.

Nicola ruled with an iron fist and nobody was allowed to step out of line. The vote on the Tranny bill was the first time that some SNP MSPs broke rank and voted against the bill.
It is more than a passing coincidence that a few weeks later Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation as the leader of the SNP and First Minster.
It is a pity that her SNP MSPs did not have the courage to vote against a Scottish Government bill several years earlier instead of ‘touching the forelock’ to their leader Nicola Sturgeon.

[The AuldYin]

It is now getting ridiculous with the Scottish Government.
In my opinion this overruling of their own financial tests is because the Scottish Government against expert advice at the time nationalised the Ferguson Shipyard in 2019.
Neil Gray said that building a new ferry would not be ready until 2027 yet there is no guarantee that 802 will be completed by then and in service on the Clyde and Hebridean ferry routes.

After saying yesterday it was a blank cheque they're now saying it isn't a blank cheque. Ach who gives a **** when it's other people's money?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...-west-65621657

[islaydarkblue]

After saying yesterday it was a blank cheque they're now saying it isn't a blank cheque. Ach who gives a **** when it's other people's money?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...-west-65621657

Neil Gray is another Scottish Government minister who does not have a clue what he is doing and he did not have the decency to say sorry for the current Calmac ferry shambles which has been happening for several years with Transport Scotland adopting a ‘sticking plaster approach’ to paper over the cracks.