SNP accused of having 'destroyed' jobs after it's revealed Ferguson shipyard to axe quarter of its staff

By MICHAEL BLACKLEY, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 19:43, 18 August 2026 | Updated: 19:45, 18 August 2026 Major fears for the future of a State-owned shipyard have been raised after it was announced that a quarter of jobs will be axed. SNP ministers and their ferries quango CMAL were accused of having ‘destroyed’ jobs at Ferguson Marine, the last remaining shipyard on the Clyde, after 70 redundancies were confirmed. The jobs face the axe despite SNP ministers claiming the entire reason for nationalising the Port Glasgow yard was to save jobs, while the move was condemned as ‘industrial vandalism’. Management blamed the job cuts on a ‘gap in workload’ as the contract to build two new CalMac ferries, the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, finally nears an end after being beset by massive delays and cost overruns following a row over the original contract. Now, the former private operator of the yard has blamed the decision to send other work to build CalMac ferries overseas to rivals for costing jobs and raised concerns about the viability of the yard under ongoing SNP Government control. Jim McColl, who owned Ferguson Marine before it fell into administration and was nationalised, told the Mail: ‘I think it is appalling that they gave those vessels away to Turkey and Poland when it is eminently capable of doing that work.  Ferguson Marine has announced plans to reduce staffing levels Jim McColl has pointed the finger at the Scottish Government ‘What the Scottish Government has done since they nationalised the yard is they have intentionally demonised the workforce and the previous management to distract people away from the real fault, which was the original specification of these ships. ‘It has been a diversionary tactic to talk about it as if the yard was not capable of doing these other things – of course they were, they were eminently capable. ‘It is appalling what they have done because they have destroyed potential work for that yard and for commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde.’ Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (FMPG) announced that it expects to see up to 70 employees leave through a voluntary redundancy programme ‘as it manages the transition between completing its current order book and starting work on a new phase of shipbuilding contracts. The firm currently employs 247 core staff and 32 apprentices, which is made up of 214 frontline workers and 65 office staff., while there are an additional 31 agency staff who will also be phased out as the current contract nears completion. The redundancy process is not available to apprentices. Mr McColl claimed that the Scottish Government introduced ‘the wrong type of organisational structure for a commercial yard’ since taking control, including too many backroom roles, and added: ‘They were told in 2017 and 2018 what the real problems were here and here we are almost 10 years later and they haven’t addressed it. What we are seeing now is the fallout from that, and unfortunately it’s the workforce. ‘There could have been 700 jobs in place now if they hadn’t nationalised that yard – that was our forecast at the time, with the additional work we were planning to get from Babcock and some other enquiries. What they did was destroyed the jobs and the only way they can recover it is to come up with some sort of plan to sell that privately again, because they are going to find it very difficult to get additional work the way that is being managed just now. ‘Yes it can be recovered but the Government need to own up to the fact that they can’t run this yard, they can’t attract new business, and put it up for sale.’ On the ongoing viability of the yard under Scottish Government control, he said: ‘It is going to end up being down to just a skeleton staff, and it will just then take more time to get going again. I know orders they could get now but they won’t get it with Government ownership.’ The Caledonian Macbrayne ferry MV Glen Sannox under construction at Ferguson Marine shipyard In March, then deputy first minister Kate Forbes announced the contract for four CalMac vessels would be given to Ferguson but this has still not been finalised and signed. Louise Gilmour, secretary of the GMB Scotland trade union, said: ‘Shipbuilders need ships to build so where are those promised to Ferguson Marine? If they ever come, who will build them? ‘Fergusons was once Scotland’s ferry factory with a worldwide reputation for excellence, and should be again. ‘Instead, skilled and experienced shipbuilders are being encouraged to leave as those in charge send contracts everywhere but here. Scottish Labour leadership contender Michael Marra said: ‘This is industrial vandalism. Families shouldn’t be facing redundancy when the Scottish Government owns the yard and ferries are being built overseas.’ Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Tim Eagle said: ‘SNP ministers have spent years boasting about how they have protected jobs at Ferguson Marine, only to now oversee redundancies after all. ‘Their staggering incompetence has resulted in hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ money being spent on lifeline ferries that ended up being years behind schedule which did untold damage to the reputation of Ferguson Marine. ‘Nationalist failures have undoubtedly meant a nationalised yard has missed out on much needed new work and now workers are paying the price.’ Graeme Thomson, chief executive of Ferguson Marine, said: ‘Our immediate focus remains the safe, high-quality handover of Glen Rosa in Q4 2026. However, as the vessel nears completion, we face an inevitable gap in workload while we work with the Scottish Government to make the relevant preparations to enable us to proceed with contract negotiations. ‘Shipbuilding capability relies on continuity and while changes of this nature are difficult, taking proactive action now ensures we protect the long-term viability of the yard and remain lean, modern, and ready to cut steel on the new fleet as quickly as possible. ‘We take our responsibility to our workforce and community incredibly seriously. By offering a voluntary redundancy path, we want to support team members who have given so much to shipbuilding on the Clyde as they consider their next steps. At the same time, we are doing everything in our power to ensure the yard is structured to offer secure, long-term careers once the new build programme gets underway.’ Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn said: ‘The voluntary redundancies scheme announced by Ferguson Marine today is part of efforts to modernise the shipyard and put it on a more competitive footing. ‘The action that the leadership team at Ferguson Marine is taking today is necessary to help secure a viable future for the yard, and that of commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde. This is alongside their efforts to upskill workers, bid for new contracts and opportunities with partners. ‘I am assured that a reduced workforce will not impact the build of the MV Glen Rosa, which is on track to be delivered in quarter four 2026. Our intention to directly award four vessels continues to undergo full due diligence further to next steps which will be announced to Parliament in due course.’