Recall Parliament to address ferry crisis say Scottish Liberal Democrats

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today called for the Scottish Parliament to be recalled to address the crisis engulfing Scotland’s ferry network as communities in Argyll & Bute and up and down the west coast face yet more upheaval, with up to eight ferries out of action.

The Scottish Parliament can be recalled up until 8th April.

Mr Cole-Hamilton made the comments as he and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey visited the key target seat of Strathkelvin & Bearsden to play tennis with community activist and candidate Adam Harley and local MP Susan Murray, declaring that the party are “ready to serve” and can make gains across the country. Adam Harley is also top of the West of Scotland list which covers coastal communities such as Ardrossan and Arran.

The constituency seat significantly overlaps with the UK Parliament constituency of Mid Dunbartonshire which was won by Liberal Democrat Susan Murray by almost 10,000 votes at the recent election.The current MSP Rona Mackay has announced that she will be standing down at the forthcoming election.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

Right now, people in Argyll & Bute and up and down the west coast are facing yet more ferry crises. It is the cusp of the Easter break, yet so many routes are missing their ferries. This is a fiasco entirely of the SNP’s creation.

That’s why today I am asking the presiding officer and the other parties to recall Parliament so that we can debate a plan for helping residents and businesses. SNP ministers need to answer for their complete neglect of coastal and island communities and present an immediate package of compensation for those affected.

Scotland deserves better. And with the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the rise in seats like Argyll & Bute and Strathkelvin & Bearsden as well as on the peach regional ballot paper, you can vote for that change.

Ed Davey said:

There is such a buzz around this campaign and that is because we can win seats across Scotland. Scottish Liberal Democrats are ready to serve.

Here in Strathkelvin & Bearsden we are building on the enormous victory that the Liberal Democrats won at the General Election and on our overwhelming victory in the recent council by-election, where the Conservatives collapsed, Reform underwhelmed and the Labour party were nowhere.

In many constituencies like this we are on the verge of winning against the SNP but wherever you are, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot will deliver change with fairness at its heart.