£100 MILLION Rugby role for ‘bullying’ head
...that’s bill facing taxpayers as ‘last shipyard on Clyde’ is nationalised by Scottish Government – because of ferry deal fiasco that THEY created!
THE last remaining commercial shipyard on the Clyde has been nationalised – leaving taxpayers with a bill of up to £100million.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said ‘public control’ of the Ferguson Marine yard will provide ‘much-needed continuity of employment’.
Ministers now run the yard and are pumping millions of pounds into the crisis-hit business, providing a vital lifeline to safeguard 350 jobs.
Billionaire businessman Jim McColl had bought the yard in 2014 but accused the Scottish Government of failing to provide enough funding for a CalMac ferry contract. The move was welcomed by the shipyard workers’ union, but GMB Scotland official Gary Cook warned nationalisation would not be a ‘quick fix’.
Scottish Tory transport spokesman Jamie Greene said the ‘whole fiasco is a national embarrassment’ – and called for a public inquiry.
He said: ‘The SNP Government’s decision to barge in and use ministerial powers to take over the yard simply covers up the true extent of how much they have messed up this bungled ferry contract.
‘Derek Mackay has not explored all of the options available, and he has refused to compromise with the shipbuilders over the disputed costs.’
Ministers said the agreement will enable completion of the two ferries under construction for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), which buys and leases the CalMac ships on Daily Mail, August 12 behalf of the Scottish Government.
Mr Mackay said: ‘Public control will provide much-needed continuity of employment now and ensure the completion of the CMAL ferry contracts at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayer.’
He added: ‘It is essential that the outstanding contracts to build these two ferries are completed in order to sustain the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services network. The alternative was for the Government to stand aside while the company went into administration, resulting in jobs being lost and the vessels not being completed.’
Work on the projects at the yard in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire stalled in a row over whether Ferguson Marine Engineering or CMAL would pay the extra money after the cost of the project rose above the original estimate of £97million.
Sources say that the business may now require an additional £100million from the taxpayer.
A spokesman for Mr McColl’s firm, Clyde Blowers Capital (CBC), said: ‘The Scottish Government have not involved CBC or the directors of Ferguson Marine in any of the discussions leading up to this. We are unaware of the deal the Scottish Government have made behind the scenes and are unable to provide any further comment.’
GMB Scotland organiser Mr Cook said: ‘We must be clear that nationalisation will not be a quick fix and there will be challenges. There will, for example, be limits to the amount of private-sector work for which the yard can compete.’
He added: ‘Our immediate priority is to secure the re-employment of the workers released.’
Shipyard worker Robert Docherty, 38, said: ‘The government stepping in has to be a brilliant move and means longterm security.’
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: ‘This is encouraging news, including for RMT members delivering busy summer services on ageing ferries.’
Comment – Page 18 A HEAD teacher who was accused of creating a toxic culture of ‘bullying and intimidation’ at one of Scotland’s oldest private schools has been made an international ambassador by rugby chiefs.
John Halliday, rector of the £13,650-ayear High School of Dundee, was among school bosses who subjected religious education tutor Daniel Goodey to what a tribunal agreed was ‘confusing and humiliating treatment’ after a parent made a complaint about him. Judge Ian McFatridge ordered the school to pay Mr Goodey £60,745.40 in compensation.
Dr Halliday, 64, who is due to retire in January, has been appointed to represent the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) at meetings of Rugby Group, an administrative body. The £7,000 role gives Dr Halliday a seat on the Scottish Rugby Council.
One rugby insider told the Times the appointment ‘sends out a dreadful message’ and ‘suggests we are not taking the issue of bullying seriously’.
The SRU refused to comment on the suitability of Dr Halliday, who previously served as the organisation’s schools representative.
‘A national embarrassment’