Derek Mackay has denied he was the only one to blame for the botched construction of two CalMac ferries at a Clyde shipyard.
The former SNP minister - who quit government in disgrace in 2020 - was quizzed by MSPs today over his role in handing a multi-million pound contract to the Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow.
Appearing at Holyrood for the first time since his resignation, Mackay admitted there had been a "catastrophic failure" at the shipyard - but denied the contract award was politically motivated.
Both ferries were ordered in 2015 and were due to enter service by 2018 - but neither vessel has been finished, with the first not due to be completed until this winter.
Mackay was serving as minister for transport and the islands when the contract was signed off in August 2015.
An Audit Scotland report later severely criticised the decision to hand the construction deal to Fergusons.
Public audit committee member Craig Hoy suggested the former minister was being "lined up to be the fall guy here" and that the Scottish Government had launched "operation blame Derek Mackay".
Mackay said: "I'll take my share of responsibility. But equally I recognise the catastrophic failure at Fergusons to complete the vessels on time and on budget. That is deeply regrettable.
"But what I don't regret is protecting the workforce and ensuring the yard was supported and has a future and we were able to support Scottish shipbuilding."
Asked who else had a share in the responsibility, Mackay continued: "According to the Auditor General there are multiple failings. I don't think it all rests on me.
"But I am taking my share of responsibility. I was the lead minister."
Fergusons was saved from closure by a firm controlled by billionaire businessman Jim McColl in 2014 - just weeks before the referendum on Scottish independence.
McColl, a former member of the Scottish Government's business advisory council, has since become a vocal critic of the contract award.
Fergusons collapsed into administration in 2019 and was nationalised by the Scottish Government.
Mackay insisted the decision to award the contract to Fergusons was not politically motivated.
Pressed on whether announcement was timed to coincide with an SNP party conference, he added: "I don't think there was a political agenda and I don't think it was rushed at all.
"I don't think there was any evidence it was rushed. It was a methodical approach to procurement.
"I recognise the failure of it but it was made with the best of intentions.
"I don't think it was a partisan decision. It was about trying to ensure we could get two vessels complete and built in Scotland."
Mackay quit government in February 2020 just hours before he was due to deliver a budget speech after a newspaper reported he had bombarded a 16-year-old boy with text messages.
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