Rising NHS waiting lists, a widening attainment gap in education and falling support for independence: Scotland’s next first minister will have a bulging in-tray when he or she assumes office in coming weeks. However one issue in particular seems set to be an early thorn in the side of Scotland’s new leader: the increasingly scandalous debacle of the ferries fiasco.
The latest development is today’s Scottish Government announcement of yet another delay in completing the vessels. The first of the boats, Hull 801, otherwise known as the Glen Sannox, is now expected to be ready sometime this autumn instead of May. The other boat, Hull 802, is now expected to be ready by autumn of next year instead of next March.
Humza Yousaf admitted the government’s attempts to build ferries has been ‘unacceptable’. It has been more than unacceptable. It has been shameful.
The new setback follows a report earlier this week from Audit Scotland warning that uncertainty remains over the final costs and completion dates of the two delayed ferries.
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