The SNP Scottish Government has confirmed that it will be increasing ferry fares by 10% from 1st January 2025 for the Northern Isles network, and then for the Clyde and Hebrides network from 28th March 2025.
Commenting as Scottish Conservative shadow transport secretary, Sue Webber MSP said, “Scotland’s island communities will be astonished and rightly furious to hear about this huge rise in ferry fares.
“Those reliant on CalMac for lifeline ferries have endured a sub-standard service for years due to the SNP’s incompetent procurement of new vessels. So the announcement of a 10% hike in ticket prices will feel like another slap in the face to them.
“The SNP transport secretary says these rises are necessary – but they wouldn’t have been had the SNP Scottish Government not wasted hundreds of millions of pounds on two new vessels which shamefully have still to carry a single passenger several years after they were due to come into service.”
Coincidentally, today marks 10 years since the SNP Scottish Government began the procurement process for the two new ferries. This anniversary comes after yet another delay in completion was announced last week. The increase in fares and continued delays provide nothing but more of the poor-quality service thanks to the SNP’s mishandling, and Scotland deserves better.
