Show us the Money!

Six months after the Prime Minister promised to make funding available to invest in Grangemouth, workers are still waiting, and beginning to fear that the promised investment is nothing more than a mirage.

The Grangemouth workers have launched an open letter aimed at Sir Keir Starmer for failing to deliver on his promises to provide investment in the Grangemouth hub, which is crucial for the Scottish economy.

Exactly six months ago on 23 February, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference, the Prime Minister promised to make £200 million available from the National Wealth Fund for Grangemouth.

Despite the refinery (the only one in Scotland) ceasing production in April and hundreds of jobs being shed at the complex including at the chemicals plant and among contractors based at the site, not one penny of the promised investment has been spent.

In response to the government’s inaction, workers at Grangemouth, who are members of Unite, have launched an open letter and are encouraging all affected workers and members of the local community to sign.

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.

“The government’s failure to act shows there is absolutely no plan for a jobs’ transition.”

Unite has produced a detailed and fully costed plan about how the refinery could be transitioned to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The government is promoting the use of SAF to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector.

Unite Senior Rep at Grangemouth Chris Hamilton said: “Workers and members of the community feel abandoned by a government that has promised to help but has so far totally failed to deliver”

“Each month more and more people leave the site through redundancy with empty promises wringing in their ears. This government may have forgot 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.”

To view the full contents of the open letter, and to add your name to the call on the Prime Minister to “Show us the money!” go here.

By Keith Hatch