The SNP Government should immediately instruct the state owned company, Caledonian MacBrayne, to reduce ferry fares for all private and commercial traffic, according to Labour’s prospective candidate in the Western Isles, Alasdair Morrison.

Speaking in Stornoway today, Mr Morrison said: “With a massive reduction is the price of oil, every home and business in the Western Isles should now be benefiting from cheaper ferry fares.

“The reduction in fuel prices is reflected at our petrol pumps and is also benefiting those buying heating fuel.

“The Edinburgh government has a duty to ensure that it is working for every community in Scotland.  I’d expect that the newly appointed Minister for the Islands, Derek Mackay MSP, would see the reduction of ferry fares as a priority. He must act immediately to actually do something positive for our islands.

“This is an opportunity for Mr Mackay to show that the title Minister for the Islands actually means something and is not, as some suspect, window dressing. CalMac is wholly owned by the Scottish Government and he should issue the instruction to reduce fares immediately.”

Mr Morrison added: “I have today written to Flybe and Eastern Airways requesting that their fare profile also reflects the reduced cost of oil and that they should act to reduce the cost of travel also.”