more than two years on and these ferries are still far from finished. the scottish government is now promising to launch this one by next spring and the other by the end of next year, but that would make them five years late, and they're already around two and half times over budget. cheering. nicola sturgeon once celebrated the order to build the ferries with the workers it saved, but critics say the contract was a terrible deal for the taxpayer. i express, again, my deep, deep regret at the delays and the cost overrun in the construction of these ferries, and lessons are being learned, have been learned and will be learned. but i don't regret the fact that that shipyard still exists. her government struck a deal — on the balance of risks — that has been catastrophic for a scottish taxpayers. for scottish taxpayers. and any evidence as to why this call was made has mysteriously vanished. shocking and out of touch...