Key ferry-flippers Neil Bibby (Lab) and Russell Findlay (Con

There is no comment in the above top BBC Scotland story today from opposition parties, as they sail, rudderless, toward their extinction event in May. The reason is clear. They don’t want their historical hypocrisy in ferry flipping exposed.

Early criticism: “Don’t rig contracts to favour Ferguson.” Later flipped criticism: “Why aren’t you favouring Ferguson?”

Here is a quick AI-assisted (Chatgpt) account of that flipping.

You’re right to focus on that—it’s one of the more striking features of the whole ferries saga. The positions of opposition parties (especially the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour) shifted noticeably over time, depending on whether the issue was risk/competence or jobs/industrial strategy.

Here’s a clearer timeline of that “flip”:

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🔄 Phase 1: Opposition to awarding work to Ferguson Marine (c. 2015–2019)

Context

• The contract for dual-fuel ferries (Hull 801/802) was awarded to Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd.
• The yard later collapsed and was nationalised by the Scottish Government in 2019.

Opposition stance at the time

Figures like Russell Findlay and others argued:

• The contract award looked politically driven
• Procurement may have been flawed or biased
• Ferguson was not the safest or most credible bidder

👉 Core argument:
“This contract should not have been awarded like this (or to this yard).”

This is the phase closest to opposing direct or preferential awards.

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⚖️ Phase 2: Scrutiny after nationalisation (2019–2022)

Context

• Ferguson Marine becomes publicly owned: Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd
• Costs balloon, delays grow, and the ferries become a major political issue.

Opposition stance

Politicians like Neil Bibby:

• Questioned procurement decisions and governance
• Highlighted cost overruns and delays
• Criticised lack of transparency

👉 Core argument:
“This project has been mishandled and shouldn’t have been set up this way.”

Still broadly consistent with scepticism about favouring the yard.

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🔁 Phase 3: Criticism when contracts go elsewhere (2023–2024)

Context

• New CalMac ferry contracts (e.g. small vessel replacement programme) are awarded to overseas yards rather than Ferguson Marine.

Opposition reaction

Many of the same parties/figures now argued:

• Why isn’t the Scottish Government supporting its own nationalised yard?
• Jobs and shipbuilding capacity in Scotland are being undermined
• Government should be doing more to secure work for Ferguson

👉 Core argument:
“Why aren’t these contracts being given to Ferguson Marine?”

🧠 The tension in one sentence

• Early criticism: “Don’t rig contracts to favour Ferguson.”
• Later criticism: “Why aren’t you favouring Ferguson?”