McArthur responds to the establishment of ferries taskforce

Responding to the Deputy First Minister's announcement that a ferries taskforce will be established between Orkney Islands Council and the Scottish Government, Orkney's MSP Liam McArthur said:

"While the establishment of a ferries task force is welcome it is not the first such task force to be launched by this Scottish Government. Former Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf made a similar pledge to people in Orkney back in 2018.  In the event, it rarely met, had no real ministerial input and went the same way as SNP pledges on RET. 

"Given the importance of these lifeline service, that can’t be allowed to happen again. If Mr Swinney is serious about wanting to find a resolution to this long running saga, he can’t simply announce and retreat. He must stay the course and make clear to his officials that he expects to see this task force agree a plan for delivering the new ferries that are urgently needed. Orkney’s island communities need and deserve nothing less."