‘Victimised’ Mackay offers to face MSPS over SNP ferries fiasco
Disgraced former SNP minister Derek Mackay has said he is prepared to appear before a Holyrood committee to set the record straight over the Calmac ferries fiasco.
Friends of Mr Mackay said he believes he has been “victimised” after Nicola Sturgeon appeared to blame him for giving the green light to the contract.
The First Minister said her Government “operates under collective responsibility” but it was “a matter of public record” that Mr Mackay was transport minister at the time.
Two ferries being built at Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow are set to be at least fouryearslateandaround£150 million over budget.
Mr Mackay has not set foot in Holyrood since he resigned as finance secretary in February 2020 over messages sent to a 16-year-old schoolboy.
Speaking publicly for the first timesincehisdownfall,hesaid: "I am willing to co-operate with aparliamentarycommitteeand do my best to answer any questions they may have.
"To do so as comprehensively as possible, I will seek access to thenecessarypapersandinformation that I am entitled to as a former government minister."
A friend of Mr Mackay told The Sunday Times: "Derek believes he has been victimised in this whole affair and he is happytoappearatthecommittee where he will set the record straight and deal with the facts.
"Hesays,infact,hewasfourth in the pecking order around these ferry orders, as junior transport minister – the most junior of those dealing with
them. He was behind the main players – Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney and Keith Brown.
"Anyonewhoknowsanything about the way these processes work knows something of this sizecouldneverhavehappened without prior approval at the highest levels."
Areportbyauditscotlandhas raised concerns over a lack of documentation to explain why the ferries contract was signed off without a refund guarantee that would have protected publicmoney,anddespiteconcerns
raised by government ferries agency CMAL.
Holyrood's public audit committee is now expected to launch a probe into the debacle.
Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson welcomed Mr Mackay’s statement.
He told the BBC’S Sunday Show: "I think that would be a good thing if he comes before the public audit committee, because what we don't know
so far – because the Government has not told us – is why the decision was taken to ignore CMAL'S advice.
"They were saying 'don't give that contract to Ferguson's’.
"We do not know yet why that decision was taken or indeed who took it.
"The SNP are trying to blame Derek Mackay, so I'm not surprised that he wants to come forward and speak to a committee."
Scottish Labour leader Anas
Sarwar said: "I think it's right that he comes to give evidence.
"I think it's frankly laughable for the Government to suggest that we don't have a control freak government and we don't have a micromanaging First Minister.
"The idea that such a big decision was taken by a junior minister without the approval of the First Minister is unbelievable."