Yesterday the Evening Times revealed Strath­clyde Partnership for Transport is considering shutting down the service in a move which would save £430,000 a year.

Within hours of our story appearing, the proposal had been raised at Scottish Questions in Westminister by Jim Sheridan, Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North.

He called on Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy to bring up the issue with the Holyrood Government.

Jim Murphy responded by accusing the SNP of abandoning another west of Scotland transport project. Labour are already furious with the SNP over the cancellation of the Glasgow Airport rail link.

Mr Murphy said: “As with the Glasgow Airport Rail Link they just don’t care.”

Mr Sheridan said he and fellow Labour MP John Robertson, who represents Glasgow North West, are worried about the impact on jobs if the ferry goes. He added: “A lot of my constituents use the ferry to get to their jobs and to go across the river to the BAE Systems shipyard.

“John Robertson and myself will try and speak to SPT spelling out the consequences if this ferry is taken off.”

The SNP responded to the criticism by accusing Labour of hypocrisy. Glasgow MSP Bill Kidd said: “There can be no doubt the fate of the Renfrew Ferry lies in Labour’s hands.”

A spokeswoman for the transport authority, which owns and operates the ferry, said no decision has been made on the future of the service.