NICOLA Sturgeon has been invited to give evidence to a Holyrood committee over the Ferguson ferries scandal.
The First Minister has been asked to attend a session of the Public Audit committee following the appearance of former finance secretary Derek Mackay on Thursday.
The former MSP, who quit his ministerial role after it after more than 100 inappropriate messages he sent to a 16-year-old boy were made public by the Scottish Sun, insisted there was no “political motivation” behind the decision to award the ferries contract to Ferguson Marine.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon gives verdict on Liz Truss's 'very belated' energy plans
Jim McColl, Ferguson’s owner, was reportedly a supporter of independence, but in 2015 said he no longer backed separation from the UK.
The yard has since been nationalised to save it from administration and the Glen Sannox and the as-yet-unnamed hull 802 are projected to cost two-and-a-half times more than planned and be delivered five years late.
Critics have claimed the contract was rushed to allow for an announcement to be made at the SNP conference in 2015, but the former minister rejected the assertion. 
Following Mackay’s evidence session, committee convener Richard Leonard, Scottish Labour MSP, said there are still some outstanding issues which need to be clarified.
He said: “Today brought clarity to some central issues the committee has taken evidence on.
“However, there remain major differences in the versions of events stretching back to February 2015.
READ MORE: Operation Unicorn: What happens if the Queen dies in Scotland?
“We have today decided to invite the First Minister to give evidence at a future meeting to help us get to the bottom of what has gone badly wrong with the delivery of ferries 801 and 802 for the Clyde and Hebrides.
“We will also consider any further next steps necessary to be able to report to Parliament on our findings.”
Mackay was the minister who approved the £97 million contract for two ferries being given to the shipbuilding yard in Port Glasgow.
After his evidence session ended, he fled out of the backdoor of the committee room and through a basement corridor to the car park to avoid the waiting press.
Costs eventually spiralled to over £200 million, according to a Freedom of Information request logged by the Scottish Conservatives.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel