Speaking after the Scottish Government decided to increase CalMac ferry fares by more than the rate of inflation, Alan Reid, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute, said,

"This above inflation increase is an absolute disgrace. It comes on top of the decision to charge concessionary card holders in Argyll & Bute a pound for a return ferry journey instead of the free ferry travel they currently enjoy. The SNP slashed fares to the Western Isles. Now they're putting up fares to and from islands and peninsulas in Argyll & Bute in order to find the money to subsidise the cheap fares to the Western Isles. It's high time this SNP Government did something positive for Argyll & Bute instead of seeing us simply as a source of money for their pet schemes elsewhere."