A few days ago, with better things to do - such as hobnobbing with Her Majesty down south - Nicola Sturgeon dodged the crossfire in the Scottish Parliament and threw the Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes, into the arena to deal with the continuing wrath of Opposition MSPs over the continuing shambles of Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd and the CalMac ferry contract. Let's have a look.
Kate told the Parliament that the contract for the ferries in 2015 was signed by Thomas Docherty, the Chief Executive of the procurer-purchaser, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) at the time and Jim McColl, then proprietor of Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL). That would be normal business procedure.
Certainly, one Thomas James Docherty was Chief Executive of CMAL between 2014 and 2016 so that the dates fit in. Fast forward 7 years and Mr Docherty has long gone from CMAL to enjoy his retirement in Hampshire. For whatever reason, we have heard nothing from either Mr Docherty or the Board of CMAL running the company at the time.
There are only two questions now remaining (a) did the CMAL Board conduct itself in an utterly reckless manner in awarding this contract to FMEL and are they thus blameworthy and wholly responsible for the crazy losses incurred or (b) was the CMAL Board ordered by SNP politicians - the only shareholders in CMAL, remember - under Ministerial Direction to give the contract to FMEL come what may?
Your call, Ms Sturgeon.
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