The Herald’s David Leask is on the case of the latest ferry fiasco narrative.
Today, we hear that owners, the Independent-run Orkney Council, with a 62% of the vote Lib Dem MSP for the islands, anticipates two of its nine ferries breaking down and, of course, plans to pass the buck to the SNP Government in Edinburgh which subsidises it.
Councillors have warned they may have to consider evacuation proposals for the outer isles.
Well-down the page, we read, with interest:
So, the Council took advantage of EU funding then lost it due to Brexit? Why do they then think the Scottish Government should make up for that? Their Lib Dem MP in London will take it up for them, won’t he?
Last year, Leask’s colleague, Martin Williams wrote:
THE £185.5m-a-year of taxpayers money used to subsidise ferry services would “better deployed” according to a consensus of responses to transport inquiry.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/23207252.185m-a-year-scots-ferry-subsidy-should-better-deployed/
Respondents suggested private sector operators could provide a better service without the need for subsidies.
They should have a go at that.
Maybe a Norwegian ferry operator could step in? Viking Line? It would be nice to see those images again.
Leask also reports that the bigger ferries are operated by the Scottish Government or a rival private operator. Really which Orkney ferry is owned by the Scottish Government?
Finally, more generally, how are things going in Orkney?
Between 2001 and 2021, the population of Orkney Islands has increased by 17.3%. This is the 2nd highest percentage change out of the 32 council areas in Scotland. Over the same period, Scotland’s population rose by 8.2%.
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/council-area-data-sheets/orkney-islands-council-profile.html#:~:text=Between%202001%20and%202021%2C%20the,32%20council%20areas%20in%20Scotland.
What could that mean?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Orkney Council,along with the Scottish government have to operate on a fixed budget,allocated by the London treasury.
If they need new money to fund services then they need to take that up with Westminster.
Devolution has been a very useful tool for London,enabling them to hide cuts to public services by offloading the blame to devolved governments but not the means to obviate them.
Those who demand control of the resources to enable funding of public spending are responsible and must be held accountable.
I notice Tony Blair has put his head above the parapet and is suggesting,certainly for the NHS,that the private sector needs to be more involved.
More PPI bollards from Labour.
How much profit would they be able to leaverage from running ferry services to remote island communities?
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Obviously Stockan is a closet independista. Making a very good case for independence. Scottish gov should take a leaf out of Calmacs book and demand a full retraction.
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Ah yes Orkney that failing would be little England that has had lots of money ploughed into it because the poor souls suffered the ignominy of oil wealth , shame , actually ? YES , SHAME on them for having the audacity to squander huge amounts of money and then come to us when their greedy ferry business fails , know what ? take a hike , until you you dump those lying sheisters Lib Dem we don’t want to hear you.
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That’s what they get for voting LibDem. Brexit and less investment.
Increased population and tourism. 4 ferries being built. 2 saving fuel. More than before. One a year was built by unionists.
One of the best places to live according to surveys,
Subsided transport for the locals. They had an Oil Fund.
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