Swinney deflects pressure over public contracts sent abroad

At First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pressed John Swinney to commit that future public contracts for ferries and buses would be awarded to Scottish yards and manufacturers rather than sent overseas.

“We need a more coherent industrial strategy, whereby we build our vital infrastructure here in Scotland,” Sarwar said.

“That means building buses in Scotland so that Scottish companies can thrive, and it means building ferries in Scotland so that Scottish shipyards can thrive. However, under the Scottish National Party, we have had buses for Scotland built in China while Scotland’s bus companies struggle, and ferries built in Turkey and Poland while Scotland’s shipyards go without.”

Sarwar contrasted this with Labour’s pledge: “I am clear that a Scottish Labour Government that I lead will build Scotland’s buses, ferries and other crucial infrastructure right here in Scotland.”

In reply, Swinney said the SNP’s record had to be set against Labour’s time in office. “When the Labour Party was the leading party in the Scottish Executive, it sent contracts for ferries to Poland and to other European countries,” he argued, adding that he supported ferries and buses being built in Scotland and was committed to investing in the skills to make that possible.

“I am all for developing the skills to make sure that we can do that, and I am all for ensuring that we invest to make that happen. That is what I was doing this week—making sure that that is likely to happen—and I am proud of that record for the people of Scotland,” the First Minister said.

Swinney’s response placed emphasis on decisions made under Labour before the introduction of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and before more recent investment in Scottish yards. In that context, drawing comparisons with contracts placed decades earlier does appear an unusual line of defence. He stopped short, however, of giving a direct guarantee that future contracts would not be awarded overseas.

The exchange comes at a time when Scottish shipbuilding has seen renewed momentum. Major Royal Navy programmes such as the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates are now centred on the Clyde and Rosyth, supported by the UK’s National Shipbuilding Strategy and industry investment.