Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of blaming shamed former SNP minister Derek Mackay for the ferry fiasco at Ferguson Marine.
The SNP leader told MSPs today that Mackay - who quit government in disgrace in 2020 - was transport secretary at the time contracts were awarded to the Port Glasgow shipyard in 2015.
A report from Audit Scotland this week slammed that decision - and found that civil servants had warned SNP ministers the deal did not offer good value for money.
Ferguson Marine struggled to construct the two ferries ordered and the company eventually entered administration before being rescued by the Scottish Government in 2019.
The vessels will now not enter service until 2023 at the earliest - more than five years behind schedule.
Speaking at First Minister's Questions, Tory leader Douglas Ross asked Sturgeon which of her ministers had given the green light for the ferry contracts to be awarded to Ferguson Marine against the advice of civil servants.
The First Minister replied: "It is a matter of public record - that was Derek Mackay.
"But of course this is a government - and this may be alien to the Conservatives - that operates by collective responsibility.
"Ultimately, as with any decision, whether I am personally involved with them or not, responsibility stops with me."
Ross hit back: "The finance secretary couldn't tell this parliament yesterday who was to blame.
"But 24 hours later, the SNP spin machine has spun into action and it is the fault of the disgraced ex-finance minister.
"Let me get this straight - the First Minister is claiming she had no involvement?
"The Audit Scotland report confirms that SNP ministers were aware of the huge risks of this project - but carried on regardless."
Sturgeon responded: "It was him who asked who the individual minister was - I did not volunteer that information.
"It is a matter of public record who the transport minister was at the time of that decision. It is a matter of public record that was Derek Mackay.
"But here's the bit that doesn't suit the script that didn't suit the script Douglas Ross prepared.
"I'll repeat it again - this is a government that operates by collective responsibility and I am responsible ultimately for all decisions that the government takes. The buck stops with me. I have never tried to shy away from that on any issue."
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