Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has said that a parliamentary inquiry must be launched without delay after it was revealed that the private firm brought in to run BiFab bought a majority stake for just £4 while the SNP Government poured tens of millions of pounds into the company.

The Scottish Conservative MSP said: “The anger felt by people in the Western Isles is palpable, and they have a right to know how on earth the SNP Government allowed itself to be taken for a ride like this.

“They have spent tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money and we have ended up without a plan to secure the future of Arnish or the jobs of the people employed by the yard.

“The SNP’s reputation for secrecy is already corroding public trust but they must not be allowed to draw a veil over what happened here.”