RISHI Sunak visited the Isle of Bute this afternoon, but his trip was marred by accusations that he showed a “complete disregard” to residents after reportedly getting his three cars to skip the queue for the ferry.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions car passengers must stay in their vehicles during the crossing to allow for social distancing on the ferry.
The Chancellor entered the ferry as a foot passenger on the crossing from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay while the three vehicles went on the car deck.
Online, locals were frustrated that Sunak had appeared to skip the queue, leaving residents waiting for the next ferry to arrive.
SNP councillor Rhiannon Spear said the situation “highlights that there’s one rule for Westminster Tory elite and another for the local people on the Isle of Bute”.
She said: “I don’t understand if he’s travelling via foot with his entourage why did he take up three car spaces then, when he must know – or he doesn’t know – that local people are being made to wait for the next ferry and local people are having to wait for ferries because of the situation with Covid.”
Angela Haggerty said: “Locals are raging that @RishiSunak got straight onto the ferry when they sometimes have to wait for hours because of limited capacity. Raging!"
On his return from Bute, Sunak entered the ferry in his car and then left to join the passenger deck. The National understands this was as a result of instructions from police due to a protest in the harbour.
READ MORE: Rishi Sunak accused of showing 'complete disregard' to Bute locals in ferry row
The Treasury was contacted for comment.
Pro-independence protesters were in Rothesay as the Chancellor made the trip.
He is the fourth minister in recent weeks to visit Scotland, after Boris Johnson instructed Cabinet members to be more visible north of the Border.
Sunak started the trip by ruling out any extension to the furlough scheme – something the SNP have warned will lead to mass redundancies.
He then visited Peak Scientific in Glasgow, which manufactures gas generators for analytical laboratories, before heading off to the Isle of Bute.
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