Senior SNP politicians have been accused of being “asleep at the helm” following the announcement that businesses on Mull, and other Argyll islands including Islay and Jura, would not be eligible to apply to a fund designed to compensate island businesses for losses caused by the unreliability of the ferry service.
Mull is one of several islands excluded from the Scottish Government’s new £4.4 million Island Business Resilience Fund despite being severely affected by the ongoing crisis.
SNP minister Jenni Minto, who represents Argyll and Bute at Holyrood, and Brendan O’Hara, the former SNP chief whip at Westminster, who also represents Argyll and Bute, have been criticised for failing to deliver for island businesses in Argyll and Bute.
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Tim Eagle said it was “extraordinary” that they had not intervened to ensure that the SNP Government provided compensation to island businesses.
Mr Eagle, a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Islands Committee, said: “It seems extraordinary that these two senior SNP figures have failed to deliver for their constituents on Mull and elsewhere. There has been massive upset on Mull at being excluded, and I have been bombarded by messages from islanders angered at losing out. It is inconceivable that Jenni Minto and Brendan O’Hara could be unaware of this, and baffling that they have not used their influence in the corridors of power at Holyrood. They really have been asleep at the helm – no wonder the ferries are in a mess.”
Mr Eagle’s comments were backed by local Argyll and Bute Councillor Amanda Hampsey (Oban South and the Isles ward). Mrs Hampsey said: “There is real anger here, and rightly so. Aside from cancellations, Mull have been subjected to massive reductions in service due to the MV Isle of Mull being removed from service to aid other routes, which has been given no consideration in the weighting of this decision. This urgently needs to be addressed.
“It has been very concerning to hear how badly some businesses on Mull have been affected by the ferries. Business-owners simply don’t understand why the Scottish Government has turned its back on them.
