Despite the assurances of Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband, Scotland's last refinery will end with the loss of more than 400 jobs and lie about claims about net zero work and a “just transition”. this telegraph And more.
When Sir Keir Starmer visited Scotland a few days after becoming Prime Minister, he tried to assure workers at the Grangemouth Petroleum Refinery by claiming that preservation was a top priority.
However, what has happened since then is far from comfort.
Knowing that their job is at risk, in December 2023, employees of Falkirk’s oil refinery (80% of Scottish gasoline) were told that the site would lose more than 400 jobs as the site was lost.
The boss blamed the decision on the cost of running Scotland's last refinery and the UK's plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.
Despite this, many employees were still stunned. In addition to Scottish labor leader Anas Sarwar and Energy Minister Ed Miliband and Energy Minister Ed Miliband and Sir Keir and Sir Keir, they also provide strong assurances that they will seek to save the vast facility, which has been a fixture in Granfmouth since 1924.
“I think everyone was shocked by this announcement,” Jack said.
The workers who don't want to name add: “The refinery has been around for more than 100 years and is part of the community.
“Some are the third or fourth generation they work there, and some have been there for 40 years.
“Many people here see it as a lifelong work, and Labor has said that oil and gas will continue for a long time. So it's very worrying – and there's a lot of anger and frustration.”
The episode raises disturbing questions about the government's repeated commitment to a “fair transition” and workers in the oil and gas industry won't be left behind as the UK phases out fossil fuels to support green energy.
Sir Kyle has vowed many times that Labour would not repeat the “ruthless” decision of the Thatcher administration to close the remaining coal mines in Britain in the 1980s, without ensuring that workers have other jobs to go.
“This impact is still felt in communities across the country, and we must always make this mistake,” the Prime Minister said in his 2023 speech.
However, if Grangemouth is the first major test of this policy, locals say the government's failure is serious.
The union of Unite, which worked in Grangemouth for 30 years under Ineos and former owner BP, led by Ineos and Ineos, has convened Cliff Bowen, who is outraged by the failure to prevent the demise of the refinery and the lack of action to provide it with an alternative future.
He said the shutdown of his members in particular would not even curb global carbon emissions, with UK revenues less than 1%.
Now, Ineos and its partner Petrochina said the site will become an import terminal for the introduction of refined fuels from abroad.
“The reason we ended up ending is because there is no political will to fall behind this,” Bowen said.
“If you can’t make a transition in Grangemouth, you don’t have a chance elsewhere. No chance. Because what are you still looking for? We have skills, we have a location, we have resources.
“But all we have to do is put completely, completely, on the back of a campaign, which is the net zero altar they seem to worship in the government – no work plan.”
He added: “Why are you going to continue importing from foreign regimes and destroying your own communities for your own economic development?”
