A contract for two late and over-budget ferries was not signed for political gain, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said.
In a heated First Minister’s Questions session, which saw Swinney stand in for Nicola Sturgeon who is sick with Covid-19, the Deputy First Minister said the contract was signed to ensure the ferries were built and to secure employment at the Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow.
The Glen Sannox and as-yet-unnamed hull 802 are set to be completed five years later than planned and at least two-and-a-half-times over budget.
