Alba welcome extension of Calmac contract but urge Scottish Government to provide long term certainty before election

Commenting on the Scottish Government’s decision to extend the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) for one year, Alba Party’s Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West Candidate Chris has welcomed the announcement. 

Calmac’s HQ is located in Gourock which Mr McEleny represented for ten years. The Alba man has been campaigning for the Scottish Government to directly award the lucrative ferry operator contract to taxpayer owned Calmac as opposed to putting it out to tender with the risk of the service being privatised. 

Commenting Alba Party Candidate for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West Chris McEleny said: 

“The last time Calmac was under threat of privatisation I backed the campaign of the RMT to ensure it was kept in public hands. However, that threat has again been hanging over the hundreds of staff based in Gourock as well as the hundreds of staff across the ferry network that go to sea every day to serve communities on the Clyde and across the Hebrides. 

“It is welcome that there is a one year extension but what is needed is long term assurance from the Scottish Government that Calmac will remain in public hands, I am calling on the Scottish Government to make that commitment ahead of the General Election and not wait until after the poll to then allow the privatisation of Scotland’s ferry network.”