SHADOW Scotland minister Paul Sweeney says he is considering legal action against Inverclyde's MP for spreading 'blatant mistruths' in a row over Ferguson's shipyard.

Mr Sweeney was responding to the SNP's Ronnie Cowan, who claimed his Labour counterpart had 'talked down' the Port Glasgow site and had shown a 'lack of faith' in a Scottish shipyard.

The Inverclyde MP's comments were made in a statement defending Ferguson's after it was revealed that a new 100-metre CalMac ferry currently being built there will be delivered more than a year late.

He also accused Mr Sweeney of supporting a consortium led by BAE Systems for Royal Navy frigate work in favour of a rival bid including Ferguson Marine, something he strongly denies.

The Glasgow MP said: "It would be befitting of a fellow member of parliament if he would correct the record.

"I could consider taking legal advice on it and when you talk about commercial contracts and you're dealing with companies - I'm now going to have to call Ferguson's to clarify the situation with them because they're thinking now that I'm trying to undermine them.

"It's an unfortunate situation that Scottish politics has become so tribal that people feel they need to make blatant mistruths in a desperate bid to undermine somebody else's reputation."

The shadow Scotland minister was particularly enraged at Mr Cowan's outburst having helped save Ferguson's from administration in 2014 in his previous role with Scottish Enterprise before his election.

Mr Sweeney said: "I think it's a bizarre and rather peculiar statement to make just because it's utterly at odds with what I've been saying the whole time.

"I worked with Ferguson Marine since before I became an MP.

"I was with Scottish Enterprise and was involved in the team that actually helped restart the yard so far from not being a supporter of the shipyard I've been very personally involved in helping it over a number of years.

"It maybe demonstrates his lack of familiarity with the industry, taking that message from what I've been saying.

"Far from being unambitious for Inverclyde, think I've got the biggest level of ambition of any elected official in Scotland right now about it and it's really frustrating to look at these assets not being used and no-one else speaking out on it like the level I have.

"I'm sick of being a lone voice on this, it would be nice if Ronnie Cowan would actually get behind something like this."

But the Inverclyde MP has refused to apologise for his comments.

He said: "Ferguson Marine are involved in bidding and I shall continue to back Ferguson Marine as I believe that continued work there and a healthy order-book is the best outcome for Inverclyde.

"Others may wish to back bids that Ferguson are not included in.

"That's their choice."