ANAS SARWAR has accused the SNP of “abandoning” island communities who have been left counting the cost of the ferry crisis.

The Scottish Labour leader made the remarks as he met with campaigners on South Uist, who have had to contend with repeated disruption and cancellation of its lifeline service as its 36-year-old ferry breaks down or is drafted away to cover routes elsewhere.

The experience of those islanders is not unique, as Scottish government-owned CalMac has wrestled with an ageing fleet that has driven technical faults leading to the number of cancellations of service on its Clyde and Hebridean network soaring by 531 per cent between 2015 and 2024.

Mr Sarwar said: “The SNP has let Scotland’s lifeline ferry services descend into chaos, causing misery for islanders. 

“I have been hearing first-hand about the damage this crisis has done — families separated, NHS appointments missed, and businesses on their knees. 

“The SNP owes an apology to the island communities that have been hammered by their ferry failures — but what these communities really need is action.”

The SNP and Transport Scotland were contacted for comment.