Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has backed demands from residents of Mull and Iona for urgent action from the SNP Government to resolve the ferry crisis which is having a serious impact on the islands.

The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee today wrote to SNP Transport Minister Graeme Dey to demand a resolution to the problems afflicting their service after it was revealed that Pentland Ferries had withdrawn from talks to supply a replacement ferry.

The Scottish Conservative MSP, who yesterday called on Nicola Sturgeon to intervene personally to resolve the crisis which is affecting communities from the Western Isles to Kintyre,  said: 

“The plea from the Mull and Iona Ferry Committee is yet another cry for help from a beleaguered community which has seen its lifeline ferry service drastically deteriorate.

“All these communities get in response from SNP ministers and their agencies is delay and the promise of more meetings and consultations.

“The Committee has raised very serious concerns about what led to the withdrawal of Pentland Ferries from the discussions. They should be urgently investigated.

“But even more urgent is the need for SNP ministers to recognise that this crisis is undermining the sustainability of some of our most fragile communities.

"This is a total dereliction of duty to those communities by this SNP Government.”