Uist ferry problems

One Uist business is claimed to be considering relocating most of his company to the mainland because of a "erratic and diminished" ferry service, according to Labour candidate, Alasdair Morrison.

Mr Morrison - who did not name the firm or reveal the sector it worked in - said: “It gives me no pleasure to say that one major employer I met in Uist is considering relocating most of his company to the mainland,” due to unreliable sea connections.

Tourism also suffers because of “poor ferry links,” he said.

Mr Morrison criticised the “nonsense that is a failing winter trial on the Lochboisdale-Mallaig route.”

Repeated cancellations on that route is hitting local businesses, he maintained.

Employer set to leave Uist over ferry problems

8 March 2015

The Labour hopeful said: "The seriousness of the situation is clearly not understood by those charged with running our transport network and ferry links.

“That is a shocking indictment of the SNP’s failure and a total disregard by Cal-Mac for the economic and social state of our islands. The consistent tales of woe are depressing and clearly people are not being listened to.

“I hope that when the Islands and Transport Minister Derek Mackay eventually gets round to coming to Uist that he listens to real people and doesn’t surround himself with the usual fawning suspects. Jobs and the viability of many of our communities are at stake. The Scottish Government has to listen.”