Ian Blackford asks MoD to ‘tackle ferry crisis’

annabelindajane · 2023-04-15T11:20:51+00:00

Article in Times today re Ian Blackford appealing to Ben Wallace the defence Secretary asking for military aid to assist with the ferries . There have been warnings that Highland companies run the risk of going into administration if there is further disruption to ferry services . The military only gets involved when a public body “lacks the capability “ to fulfil a task . Devolution not so great after all . God forbid if we were independent.

Seeingadistance · 15/04/2023 12:31

Seriously!?

That’s a clear admission of failure, is it not?

What a complete brass neck they have!

KnittingNeedles · 15/04/2023 12:47

Man is an arse. Ferguson Marine??

SageHoney · 15/04/2023 12:49

Elsewhere it has been reported that the Highland Council have made a request to the Scottish Government for military assistance. If military aid is needed or might be helpful, the correct protocol is for the Scottish Government to formally request it from the UK, as the competency is reserved to Westminster rather than devolved to Holyrood. This isn't a failure of devolution; it's designed to work that way.

Separately, the source above reports, Ian Blackford in his capacity as the constituency's MP has said that he is pursuing all possible channels for assistance, and has discussed the matter with his Parliamentary colleague Ben Wallace. If Blackford (who is not a member of the Scottish government) personally has made the request for military assistance, that would be shocking!! If he spoke with a Parliamentary colleague to pave the way for a possible request from his party colleagues in ScotGov, that is not shocking.

AgnesX · 15/04/2023 12:56

SageHoney · 15/04/2023 12:49

Elsewhere it has been reported that the Highland Council have made a request to the Scottish Government for military assistance. If military aid is needed or might be helpful, the correct protocol is for the Scottish Government to formally request it from the UK, as the competency is reserved to Westminster rather than devolved to Holyrood. This isn't a failure of devolution; it's designed to work that way.

Separately, the source above reports, Ian Blackford in his capacity as the constituency's MP has said that he is pursuing all possible channels for assistance, and has discussed the matter with his Parliamentary colleague Ben Wallace. If Blackford (who is not a member of the Scottish government) personally has made the request for military assistance, that would be shocking!! If he spoke with a Parliamentary colleague to pave the way for a possible request from his party colleagues in ScotGov, that is not shocking.

Thankyou for explaining the facts rather than the usual unionist half truths and smoke.

PP may not like the current incumbents but do they think the other contenders will do any better.

Motheranddaughter · 15/04/2023 12:57

The SNP’s record on the ferries is a disgrace

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 15/04/2023 13:05

Nice spin on that @SageHoney

This is a failure by Transport Scotland (ScotGov) and the council. Should have been resolved between them for the sake of the local residents. The millionaire crofter has had to step in as a U.K. MP to ask the MoD (again, UK) to support.

If anyone sees that as a pro union spin, I couldn’t care less. The most important thing is the transport situation resolved for the residents and businesses of that area.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/04/2023 13:06

Motheranddaughter · 15/04/2023 12:57

The SNP’s record on the ferries is a disgrace

This is unarguable. It's a competence issue and would be a vote loser for most governments. I am due to get a ferry later this week and can't be certain it will be running. Its annual refit took nearly 4 months instead of one and it's not back today as promised. Its replacement is years overdue. The replacement ferry is too small for the level of traffic and people have had planned trips cancelled. Businesses must be suffering badly.

Original poster

annabelindajane · 15/04/2023 17:14

“ Lacks the capability “ is what we are focusing on here and that reflects on whole of SNP in Holyrood .

3 rd rate regional administrators.

Another article in Times from distraught business owners in the Highlands re the DRS scheme and the Highly Protected Marine Areas . They too mention the ferries and how most of the population of Inner and Outer Hebrides were cut off from mainland this week . I’ve lived in 3 rd world countries and starting to wonder if Scotland is heading under that umbrella .

I saw a quote on Wings re Nationalist Governments and how they are 20 % for the country and 80 % for lining their own pockets . Rings a bell 😂

OP posts:

Scottishskifun · 15/04/2023 21:45

It's not surprising having to request military assistance given the Scottish govt cock up with ferries!

But if you're not in the central belt your lower down the priority list regardless of if that service is a life line or not!

weegiemum · 15/04/2023 22:11

I used to live in the Outer Hebrides, still own a house there, visit regularly and we hope to retire there. The ferry situation is worrying. No wonder my friends there feel neglected and overlooked by Holyrood and Westminster. The Hebrides don't matter if you live in Edinburgh!

NatashaDancing · 16/04/2023 11:23

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 15/04/2023 13:05

Nice spin on that @SageHoney

This is a failure by Transport Scotland (ScotGov) and the council. Should have been resolved between them for the sake of the local residents. The millionaire crofter has had to step in as a U.K. MP to ask the MoD (again, UK) to support.

If anyone sees that as a pro union spin, I couldn’t care less. The most important thing is the transport situation resolved for the residents and businesses of that area.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/5a884038-db02-11ed-89ad-19e3cfc05db4?shareToken=db82f334bd1fa6b6b38b255e1cb0b217

Will no doubt be rubbished at Unionist half truths but it looks as if Blackford may have done this on his own initiative because it wasn't being dealt with in Scotland.

Ministry of Defence called in to tackle ferry crisis

The Ministry of Defence is poised to provide a replacement service for isolated communities left stranded by Scotland’s ferry crisis.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/5a884038-db02-11ed-89ad-19e3cfc05db4?shareToken=db82f334bd1fa6b6b38b255e1cb0b217

Scottishskifun · 16/04/2023 11:28

weegiemum · 15/04/2023 22:11

I used to live in the Outer Hebrides, still own a house there, visit regularly and we hope to retire there. The ferry situation is worrying. No wonder my friends there feel neglected and overlooked by Holyrood and Westminster. The Hebrides don't matter if you live in Edinburgh!

Yep!
Most people outside of the central belt feel ignored empty promises, infrastructure improvemwnts which never happened from roads to ferries and policies all designed for the central belt despite horrendous public transport which has only been cut further!

Happy to take taxes though!

Original poster

annabelindajane · 16/04/2023 12:28

Eloquent speaker from Mull ( I think)on Radio Scotland this morning said this is all at door of Transport Scotland , Scotgov and Cmac who haven’t an ounce of common sense between them . They could have re fleeted the whole of Scotlands ferries for what’s been spent so far .

OP posts: