Scottish government will explore ‘all options’ to save Grangemouth jobs

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In a statement to Holyrood, Scotland’s Economy Secretary called Syngenta’s announcement to close its plant just a year after it received a £2 million grant from Scottish Enterprise to expand its operations “deeply concerning” and a “profound disappointment.”

He said: “This government will do all it can to secure a future for the site by working with the company, other businesses and key stakeholders to explore every option for continued operations over the coming months.

“The UK Labour government has consistently professed that it supports Grangemouth, yet not one penny of the £200 million commitment from the National Wealth Fund has been deployed.

“That support is needed now to invest in the industrial cluster to ensure it is fit for the future.”

Unite industrial officer Scott Foley said the union had pressed the Scottish government for “decisive action.”

He said: “We will leave no stone unturned in the effort to secure the most positive outcome for our members, and their families.”

Urging action across the board, Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman told the Star that Mr Flynn “is absolutely right to highlight the need for the UK government to make good on the £200m,” but the SNP “also needs to think about what it can do other than point the finger.

“They’ve been in power for nearly 20 years, and there’s still no industrial strategy.

“The UK government needs to be Labour, they need to come out in public and set out how they will save these 400 jobs and hundreds more in the supply chain, and they need to do it now.

“Syngenta are offering a consultation with only one option, closure, so all everyone, both governments, unions, the lot, need to get around the table and thrash out how we save this community and the Scottish economy from another body-blow it can ill-afford.”

Westminster’s Reindustrialisation Minister Blair McDougall insisted: “We remain committed to supporting jobs in Grangemouth following the hundreds we have already protected, and will work urgently with the National Wealth Fund in the next few days to explore all options for the area.”