A dictionary of adjectives would strain to fully convey the absolute shambles of the awarding and execution of the contract to build two new ferries on the lower Clyde desperately needed by Scotland’s rural communities. 

On Tuesday night, in an excellent documentary on BBC Scotland, compelling evidence was broadcast suggesting the entire procurement process was fixed in favour of Ferguson’s, the winning shipyard which has since been nationalised after encountering financial difficulties in delivering this contract.

That no-one has resigned seems to me to suggest that politicians hold themselves to different standards to those of ordinary workers who would almost certainly be sacked if they displayed the levels of incompetence which mark the decisions in this case.

The First Minister has told Parliament on several occasions now that she takes responsibility for everything that happens on her watch, everything her government does. 

I have one simple question.  

What is the appropriate sanction for taking a decision that has short-changed the public purse of £150m? 

Want to see more SNP fails? – Politics Matters