THE Labour MP for Grangemouth has taken aim at both Keir Starmer and the Scottish Government for “abandoning” oil refinery workers and their “frankly insulting” £100 million rescue package.
Brian Leishman, the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, called out both governments for their “inaction”, stating it is a “political choice” by them for not stepping in sooner to help save Scotland’s only oil refinery.
The Labour MP said Starmer's claims that he stands with the workers “simply doesn't stack up”.
He also said that both governments are just “paying nothing more than lip service to a just transition” and that “any document detailing an industrial strategy isn’t worth the paper it’s written on”.
Leishman's comments follow the news from earlier this month that Ineos will close the oil refinery in Grangemouth by the summer of next year with more than 400 workers set to lose their jobs.
Ineos confirmed the refinery will become a much scaled-down import and distribution hub for fuel products.
Speaking to the Daily Record Leishman said: “The PM said in his speech that he stands with workers and a bold industrial strategy. But that simply doesn’t stack up when we look at the closure of the Grangemouth refinery.”
He added: “The refinery workers are being abandoned by both the UK and the Scottish Government’s inaction. And make no mistake both government's inaction is a political choice.
“The £100m quoted as a growth deal is misleading – £80m was already promised so it’s actually just an extra £10m each being provided from both governments. And that is frankly insulting to the workers and the Grangemouth community that needs the refinery.
“£10m each for community energy projects is nothing more than a token offering. We are talking about losing 400 jobs from a site and thousands of jobs from the wider supply chain. £20m and the offer of PACES coming in to help with CVs is the definition of abandonment and both governments must be called out for that.”
Earlier in September the Scottish and UK governments announced a joint £100m rescue package in a bid to help workers who will lose their jobs find reemployment within similar industries.
Some £20m of the funds are earmarked to be split evenly by the Scottish and UK governments to be invested in existing industrial sites in the area, with firms being incentivised to take on Grangemouth workers facing redundancy.
The remaining £80m will be used to encourage new businesses to set up shop in the region and take on Grangemouth workers – which is simply not enough according to Leishman.
The MP said that if both governments were serious about having an industrial strategy, then they must include Grangemouth in those plans.
He said: “In his speech, the PM rightly championed the government bringing railways into public ownership, if this can be done in the interests of national good then why can’t the Grangemouth refinery? After all, the Grangemouth refinery is a vital piece of infrastructure and provides energy and fuel security which in this volatile world means national security.
“There can be no 'Just Transition' for workers and communities if the refinery closes before new energy industries are ready. It really is that simple and if both governments are serious about having an industrial strategy then they must include Grangemouth refinery operating until the new energy industries are ready.
“If they allow the refinery to close then the truth is both governments are paying nothing more than lip service to a just transition and any document detailing an industrial strategy isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministers have made clear their disappointment that Petroineos has made the commercial decision to cease refining at the site. Despite sustained and concerted efforts by both governments Petronineos have opted not to continue operations at the site for longer to allow a longer transition timeline for the workers.
“Our focus now is on delivering immediate support for affected workers to secure new jobs and give access any necessary training, and to secure a sustainable, just transition for the wider Grangemouth industrial cluster.
“With the UK Government we are exploring viable options for the future of the site via the Project Willow cross site study and look forward to exploring routes to supporting the future phases of low carbon projects at Grangemouth via the National Wealth Fund.”
The UK Government has been approached for comment.
