Finnie calls for NorthLink nationalisation

Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie has called on the Scottish Government to bring NorthLink Ferries into public ownership at the earliest opportunity.

In a parliamentary motion lodged yesterday, Tuesday, the MSP, who is the Scottish Greens Transport and Islands spokesperson, said that the ferry services should be run in the interest of public service, rather than private profit.

Mr Finnie’s comments come ahead of a Scottish Government statement on northern isles ferries to be issued tomorrow, Thursday.

John Finnie said: “The good folk of Orkney deserve more frequent, affordable and reliable ferries, run in the interest of public service, rather than solely for private profit. It was good to see the Scottish Government recently purchase the three northern isles ferries, this should be the first step in bringing the whole setup back into public ownership.

“The RMT has been campaigning on this issue for some time and I fully support their calls to nationalise the service. Ensuring properly staffed vessels which are subject to collective bargaining can only benefit northern isles communities.”