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Nicola Sturgeon was at war with one of the SNP’s biggest business backers last night over the future of the last commercial shipyard in Scotland.

Ferguson Marine yard’s billionaire owner Jim McColl accused the First Minister’s Government of being incompetent and abusing their power.

But in a bracing attack against one of its own economic advisers, the Scottish Government accused McColl of failing to put in any of his own money to save the iconic Clyde yard and making proposals that were possibly illegal.

The Port Glasgow company, which employs about 350 people – started the process of going into administration on Friday, following a dispute over a delayed contract for two CalMac ferries.

McColl blamed the SNP Government for the crisis, saying: “The way they are acting right now is economically damaging for the local area and for Scotland.

"Anybody with a Standard Grade in economics would be able to work this out, it’s not rocket science.”

He also raised the prospect of legal action, adding: “The Government should not get away with abusing their power like this.”

McColl’s firm Clyde Blowers Capital saved Ferguson from closure in 2014 in what was seen as a boost to Alex Salmond’s government shortly before the independence referendum.

But he has been in a long-running dispute with the Scottish Government after the bill for the CalMac vessels increased to nearly double the original £97million price tag.

MV Glen Sannox is more than a year late, while Hull 802 is nearly two years behind schedule.

Ferguson Marine has blamed the hold-ups on “interference and disruption” by Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL), which buys and leases CalMac vessels.

(Image: Daily Record)

McColl wanted the Scottish Government to pay half the extra costs in return for a stake in the company but ministers refused, citing EU state aid and procurement rules.

That triggered a year-long crisis, which has left the yard on the brink of administration.

It was revealed earlier this year that public loans totalling £45million had been handed over in a bid to have the contract completed.

Following McColl’s attack yesterday, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Scottish ministers fully considered Clyde Blowers Capital’s proposal but concluded that it contained a number of serious risks and could not be taken forward.

“It offered no certainty on the overall final cost of both vessels and saw no money from CBC itself being invested into the yard.

“There were also serious concerns that entering into the proposal would have been unlawful.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard called for the yard to be nationalised.

He said: “The previous arrangement between the SNP Government and a former wealthy supporter was never the ideal model.

“The yard is a strategic national asset and should be owned and operated in the interests of the public.

“SNP ministers must work with unions to reach a solution that secures a long-term, sustainable future for the yard and these highly skilled jobs.”