Elgin business owner Lawrence Fraser grills First Minister candidates

A BUSINESSMAN from Elgin held SNP leadership hopefuls to account over the "ferry fiasco" yesterday.

Taking on the contenders at a leadership debate hosted by Northern Scot sister paper the Inverness Courier, Lawrence Fraser who owns Cathedral Windows in Elgin demanded a "cast iron guarantee" that delayed ferries be delivered.

• Watch the full debate here

Contracts for the MV Glen Sannox and Hull 802 ferries were awarded in 2015, but neither have entered service amid vast controversy and repeated delays.

Asking the night's first unplanned audience question, Mr Fraser said: "I am going to ask for a yes or no answer here.

"My name is Lawrence, I'm from Elgin.

"Will the next First Minister of Scotland please give a cast iron guarantee that the two ferry fiasco vessels will eventually enter service and serve our long-suffering island communities?

"Yes or no please."

The three hopefuls stuck to the brief and kept it short.

First to respond was Ash Regan, who said: "We must complete these contracts and get these vehicles into service."

Humza Yousaf, speaking second, said: "Yes and we must invest and continue to invest in what is an ageing ferry fleet."

Finally, Kate Forbes gave the shortest answer of all.

She said: "Even better - yes."

Mr Fraser's question was only one of many asked at the Inverness Courier Leadership Debate last night.

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