Is it for the the decision to specify two very large, unnecessarily complex dual-fuel ferries? Or is it for awarding the contract to a shipyard which did not have the capability to build them? Perhaps it is for failing to have the port infrastructure adapted to accommodate them coming into service (despite them being six years late)? Or is it for persisting with the unaccountable, bureaucratic model involving three public bodies, Transport Scotland, CMAL and CalMac, in the procurement process?
Perhaps someone could ask him.
George Rennie, Inverness.
The Glen Rosa’s much-delayed launch in April last year (Image: PA)
Solution to Arran’s woes
ON Radio Scotland this morning John Swinney apologised to Scottish islanders for the dreadful performance of their ferry services but told us that the new Glen Sannox would be able to carry 127 cars instead of the current vessel’s 90. That sounds like very good news but the facts are very different.
The reality is that although the Glen Sannox can carry 127 cars instead of 90 it must work from Troon and can only do three of these longer return runs per day instead of five, leaving a shortfall of 138 car journeys per day. The normal twin-vessel service will increase this to 276 car journeys lost per day. Simple mathematics, Mr Swinney, not sound bites.
The inability to use Ardrossan will add 40% to the journey length and time with associated fuel burn making a mockery of the green credentials that was such a large part of the justification of the complexity of these vessels. The Glen Sannox requires to be run on diesel for maneuvring, requiring a change of fuel for the first and last 10 minutes of each journey during which fuel combustion becomes inefficient and more polluting. That is not good for the environment.
And if the Glen Rosa ever makes it, denying us the use of Ardrossan in total, then surely the Road Equivalent Tariff-based fares will have to rise?
There is one solution, one that I have mentioned before, and that is to put two of the Turkish ferries on the Ardrossan to Brodick route as soon as they arrive. This will result in greater reliability, higher capacity, lower costs and just good old common sense. This would allow the Glens Sannox and Rosa to ply the longer outer island routes, replacing the aged ferries plagued by rust and outdated equipment and would be more suited to their greater size and longer LNG journeys with fewer fuel changeovers.
In the meantime, Mr Swinney should be looking at a factual and truthful re-assessment of the Scottish Government’s Transport Department, CMAL and CalMac, but in reality pigs might float.
Peter Wright, West Kilbride.
• I AM not at all surprised that the insurance value of the Glen Sannox is far below the construction cost (“Questions over ferry insurance”, The Herald, January 7). Insurance is based on the like-for-like replacement (or reinstatement) cost, with a legal duty to undertake the replacement in a competent and cost-effective manner. It is clear that a replacement vessel properly procured would cost a lot less.
Scott Simpson, Bearsden.
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We must rejoin the Single Market
AMID the uproar caused by the current spat between Elon Musk and Sir Keir Starmer on the issue of child protection, some extremely important economic news appears to have skipped the attention of much of the UK media. That news concerned UK long-term borrowing costs and the fact that they are now at their highest level since 1998 after 30-year bonds, known as gilts, reached an interest rate of 5.21% on international markets. At that level it is even above the rate caused by the backlash to Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget of 2022.
During the 2024 General Election campaign Labour was betting heavily on achieving the necessary levels of economic growth to fulfil its manifesto pledges. For its strategy to succeed Labour needed businesses to flourish and job numbers to significantly increase to then provide the funding through taxes to meet commitments. After only six months in office and as a direct consequence of Rachel Reeves’ National Insurance tax hike it has been reported by the British Chambers of Commerce that business confidence has sunk to its lowest level in two years.
If the economy continues to nosedive and Rachel Reeves does more Treasury bidding to hike taxes then yields will continue to climb. This will impact upon every mortgage holder and business owner in the country. The Treasury clearly doesn’t know what it’s doing. The Labour Party has got itself into a real mess caused by its refusal to take the one piece of relevant action which would boost business growth and confidence in our economy and that is to rejoin the European Single Market. Such action would not be revolutionary. One part of the UK – Northern Ireland – remains ensconced inside the Single Market. The people of Scotland were told back in 2014 that by remaining within the UK we would continue to be part of that Single Market. Due to Labour’s fear of upsetting voters in England we are stuck outside it and all of the economic advantages that it brings.
As far as the UK economy is concerned, things are not gong to get better. Scotland has options and in the run-up to 2026 its people have to think quite radically about them.
Jim Finlayson, Banchory.
The big question on benefit cap
THE debate on the SNP’s Budget inevitably included the two-child benefit cap. I just don’t understand why those, like the Tories, who defend the cap, or even Labour, who say they want to scrap it but are scrabbling for excuses not to, don’t reiterate the following: In the past seven years tens of thousands of families had at east one additional child when they either knew, or should have known, that a third, fourth or fifth child born after April 2017 would not get the benefit. Just to be clear, families with more than two children born before that date still get the benefit.
And if they knew that why, as one of the callers on Tuesday’s BBC Scotland phone-in asked, did they not employ the same family planning methods that other responsible Scots use (for example my own two kids and their spouses, the parents of my four fantastic grandchildren), unless they simply wanted more children and knew and accepted the responsibility and costs?
Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven.
Overbearing bureaucracy
CALUM Steele refers to the public sector gravy train in Scotland and the need for reform (“Yes, we need reform of public services – but are our leaders up to it or simply on the gravy train?”, The Herald, January 8).
The Scottish Budget including efficiency savings seems likely to be approved. It is not a surprise that there is significant pressure on public service finances.
The planned savings avoid any serious reduction in the number of public bodies in Scotland. The Scottish Governments data records 131 organisations. In addition there are 17 health boards (includes special boards). There are 32 local authorities and 31 health and social care partnerships.
Lest we forget we have the Scottish Office and the Scottish Parliament.
Many of these structures are expensive, lacking effectiveness, efficiency and flexibility. The lack of appetite to reduce such a heavy bureaucracy results in cost-cutting in services that could otherwise be avoided.
Calum Macleod, Cumbernauld.
Margaret Thatcher picture in 1985 (Image: PA)
Thatcher was of her time
I FEEL bound to reply to JB Drummond’s views on Margaret Thatcher (Letters, January 7).
She came to power came in 1979, following the grim Winter of Discontent. Sadly even the dead were being left unburied. Three general elections later, the Iron Lady was not for turning; and so she remains, one of our strongest and most-successful peace-time prime ministers. Of her time, and in the right place, when required.
Brian D Henderson, Glasgow.
If only
IN the present political climate, it would be a good thing for all politicians and others to read Kipling’s poem If. A greater mind was at work here than we are currently forced to endure.
Brian Brown, East Kilbride.