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Union accuses Starmer of 'failing to deliver' Grangemouth cash | Union accuses Starmer of 'failing to deliver' Grangemouth cash |
(1 day later) | |
Grangemouth refinery ceased production in April which has led to the loss of about 400 jobs | |
Union officials at Grangemouth have accused the prime minister of "failing to deliver" on a £200m promise to invest in the future of the industrial site. | Union officials at Grangemouth have accused the prime minister of "failing to deliver" on a £200m promise to invest in the future of the industrial site. |
The refinery, owned by Petroineos, ceased processing crude oil in April, leading to the direct loss of about 400 jobs and many others in the supply chain. | The refinery, owned by Petroineos, ceased processing crude oil in April, leading to the direct loss of about 400 jobs and many others in the supply chain. |
While a fuel distribution hub and a vast petrochemical plant remain, the Unite union says a funding package announced in February to support a transition to green energy projects has yet to materialise. | While a fuel distribution hub and a vast petrochemical plant remain, the Unite union says a funding package announced in February to support a transition to green energy projects has yet to materialise. |
The UK government said it was working to develop "sustainable, long term proposals" for the site. | The UK government said it was working to develop "sustainable, long term proposals" for the site. |
Workers at Grangemouth have campaigned hard to try to save their jobs | Workers at Grangemouth have campaigned hard to try to save their jobs |
Sir Keir Starmer pledged the funding for Grangemouth from the National Wealth Fund at the Scottish Labour conference, telling delegates it was an "investment in Scotland's industrial future". | Sir Keir Starmer pledged the funding for Grangemouth from the National Wealth Fund at the Scottish Labour conference, telling delegates it was an "investment in Scotland's industrial future". |
But the union claimed "not a penny" of the promised cash had been spent so far. | But the union claimed "not a penny" of the promised cash had been spent so far. |
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is little wonder workers are turning away from Labour in their droves when they fail to protect British jobs and critical infrastructure. | Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is little wonder workers are turning away from Labour in their droves when they fail to protect British jobs and critical infrastructure. |
"Promises made to the workers of Grangemouth have been broken. Unite produced a clear plan for the site to be transformed, to back workers and create the promised green jobs. | "Promises made to the workers of Grangemouth have been broken. Unite produced a clear plan for the site to be transformed, to back workers and create the promised green jobs. |
"The government failure to act shows there is absolutely no plan for a jobs transition." | "The government failure to act shows there is absolutely no plan for a jobs transition." |
The UK and Scottish governments jointly funded a £1.5m feasibility study called Project Willow which looked at alternative uses for the Grangemouth site. | The UK and Scottish governments jointly funded a £1.5m feasibility study called Project Willow which looked at alternative uses for the Grangemouth site. |
Unite said it had produced a detailed and fully costed plan for how the refinery could be transitioned to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). | Unite said it had produced a detailed and fully costed plan for how the refinery could be transitioned to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). |
Grangemouth worker and senior union representative Chris Hamilton said his colleagues and members of the community felt abandoned by the lack of progress. | Grangemouth worker and senior union representative Chris Hamilton said his colleagues and members of the community felt abandoned by the lack of progress. |
"Each month more and more people leave the site through redundancy with empty promises ringing in their ears," he said. | "Each month more and more people leave the site through redundancy with empty promises ringing in their ears," he said. |
"This government may have forgotten what it promised - but we haven't. It must follow through with its promises at pace and do all it can to secure a sustainable future for Grangemouth." | "This government may have forgotten what it promised - but we haven't. It must follow through with its promises at pace and do all it can to secure a sustainable future for Grangemouth." |
In June, the UK government's energy minister, Michael Shanks, said there would be announcements "soon" on the future of Grangemouth. | In June, the UK government's energy minister, Michael Shanks, said there would be announcements "soon" on the future of Grangemouth. |
Shanks, who is also the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, said the government was exploring a range of "exciting and viable" projects to secure a long-term transition for the site. | Shanks, who is also the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, said the government was exploring a range of "exciting and viable" projects to secure a long-term transition for the site. |
At the time he said more than 80 potential investors in the site had come forward, with Scottish Enterprise handling due diligence on proposed projects. | At the time he said more than 80 potential investors in the site had come forward, with Scottish Enterprise handling due diligence on proposed projects. |
UK government energy minister Michael Shanks said that announcements were imminent | UK government energy minister Michael Shanks said that announcements were imminent |
A UK government spokesperson said: "We know this has been an incredibly difficult time for workers and their families. | A UK government spokesperson said: "We know this has been an incredibly difficult time for workers and their families. |
"When we came to power, there was no overall plan for the future of the Grangemouth refinery and within weeks we delivered an unprecedented support package. | "When we came to power, there was no overall plan for the future of the Grangemouth refinery and within weeks we delivered an unprecedented support package. |
"The National Wealth Fund is investing £200m and we are working closely with investors to advance sustainable, long-term proposals for the site." | "The National Wealth Fund is investing £200m and we are working closely with investors to advance sustainable, long-term proposals for the site." |
What is the National Wealth Fund? | What is the National Wealth Fund? |
The National Wealth Fund is publicly-owned and backed by the Treasury, and invests alongside the private sector in projects across the UK - primarily focusing on initiatives that support clean energy. | The National Wealth Fund is publicly-owned and backed by the Treasury, and invests alongside the private sector in projects across the UK - primarily focusing on initiatives that support clean energy. |
The UK government said its aim was to direct "tens of billions of pounds" of private investment to decarbonise the British economy. | The UK government said its aim was to direct "tens of billions of pounds" of private investment to decarbonise the British economy. |
An initial £5.8bn injection was earmarked for green projects including "carbon capture, green hydrogen, ports, gigafactories and green steel," according to UK government documents. | An initial £5.8bn injection was earmarked for green projects including "carbon capture, green hydrogen, ports, gigafactories and green steel," according to UK government documents. |
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