THE Tories have been accused of trying to sell Scottish assets “to anyone” after desperate questions on the potential sale of Prestwick Airport.
A bid to take over the state-owned Ayrshire airport failed last year, reportedly due to faults with the runway.
Tory MSP Graham Simpson asked “what is the government looking for in a buyer”, leading to accusations they are demanding the Scottish Government moves too fast and without due diligence.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said the airport made an operational profit of around £500,000 in a year where aviation “faced huge challenges”.
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Simpson asked if the government would sell once profit reached a certain point, which Forbes denied was a factor in the Government’s decision to sell.
She said: “That’s not one of our criteria in terms of looking for bids. We are a willing seller so we will work with any expressions of interests.
“He talked about passenger numbers - that was not unique to Prestwick but what Prestwick managed to do under expert management is to develop a niche market.
“It is not about the accounts, which are showing this is a successful business.”
The Scottish Greens are supportive of keeping Prestwick Airport in public hands and said the site could play a role in the Government’s strategy to cut emissions.
Maggie Chapman, the party’s economy spokesperson, said: “The Tories are so ideologically opposed to public ownership they would sell off assets to anyone - starting with donors to the Conservative party, of course.
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“As a publicly-owned airport, Prestwick can play a key strategic role in cutting aviation emissions and a just transition, so any future owner has a duty to do the same. That’s why the Tory approach is economic and environmental folly.”
Train Alliance UK reportedly put in a bid for the site last year - offering to spend £70m upgrading Prestwick before pulling out.
It was reported in the Scotsman the firm was spooked when it was told it would need to spend £20m repairing the runway.
Forbes said media reporting of previous bids had been “inaccurate”.
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