At First Minister’s Questions today, Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “Quarter of a billion pounds of taxpayers’ money has been spent and not one ferry has been built.
“The crucial document detailing why this awful decision was made has disappeared. But all we hear from Nicola Sturgeon is this is ‘regrettable’.
“The public are rightly furious when they hear weasel words like ‘regrettable’ instead of the apology that Scottish people deserve.
“Her only justification for making this decision has been grandstanding that she saved the jobs. Now, from Jim McColl’s statements, it’s emerged the jobs were never at risk. Nicola Sturgeon’s main excuse has been shredded like the crucial missing document.
“The ferries scandal is just another example of the secrecy and incompetence that this government is famous for.
“Just look at Nicola Sturgeon’s rap sheet of damning failures - £250 million lost on ferries. £50 million lost on BiFab, £40 million lost on the Rangers scandal. The worst ever A&E waiting times on record. Violent crime at record highs since she came to power. The widest attainment gap in our schools ever - and the lowest results in international school rankings. The highest drug deaths in Europe.
“It’s a record to be ashamed of. Nicola Sturgeon takes her eye off the ball and Scotland suffers.
“At a local level, the SNP’s record is just as bad. They’ve cut hundreds of millions from council budgets. They’ve overturned hundreds of local planning decisions. They’ve brought in controversial sex surveys in schools. They’re hitting drivers with new taxes. They’ve let our biggest city be overrun by rubbish and rats. The SNP have let people down - and Labour have helped them in councils across Scotland where they share power.
“Tomorrow’s election is a chance to get the focus back onto the things that really matter to people - improving local services, rebuilding roads, investing in schools and cleaning up our streets.
“Scottish Conservative councillors will focus on local priorities and stand up to the SNP Government when they waste a fortune on ferries, slash council budgets and cut vital services. SNP candidates shouldn’t be rewarded for Nicola Sturgeon’s failures.”