Government urged to compensate Uist businesses

Businesses in the Western Isles affected by the six-week withdrawal of Lochboisdale ferry should receive financial compensation from the Scottish Government for their losses, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has demanded.

Mr Sarwar called on the SNP government to step in directly to help business and tourism operators in Uist which face ruin after CalMac cancelled the direct ferry service to the island throughout the busy Easter period.

Sailings between South Uist and the mainland have been cancelled between 5 April-13 May due to the need to re-deploy vessels elsewhere on the network and because of a shortage of vessels.

Ahead of visit to the Western Isles with Torcuil Crichton, Labour’s Westminster candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Mr Sarwar said the sudden cancellation would be a huge blow to tourism operators, hauliers and fishing businesses in Uist.

He said: “It is clear that this is going to be a massive commercial blow to the confidence of the business sector in the islands.

“There is a precedent for direct compensation in the schemes to support businesses affected by the pandemic. The paperwork would not take long and businesses with proven losses could be compensated in short order to help them through.”

Torcuil Crichton, the Labour candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, said: “ The roots of this scandal may be in the rusting hulls on the Clyde but the direct effects are being felt in Uist right now.

“There is a lot of anger and despair but there is no point in assigning blame to CalMac as they are operating within the limits of what their fleet allows.

“We can have an inquisition later but Uist needs compensation now.”

Sarwar calls for compensation for Uist businesses

30 March 2023