A Hospitality Pass for Labour, A Hospital Pass for Grangemouth

Labour Shamed for Backing Manchester United over Scottish Workers

Acting ALBA Party Leader, Kenny MacAskill, today staged a protest outside the Scotland Office in Edinburgh highlighting the “shameful betrayal of Scottish workers and Scottish industry” by the Labour Party. 

He was joined by Cllr Brian McCabe an Independent Falkirk Councillor for Denny and Banknock ward and his former Westminster colleague Neale Hanvey. 

They displayed a large Manchester United “Hospitality Season ticket”, addressed to Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray MP, which highlighted the fact that the UK Government has chosen to prioritise a £600 million loan guarantee to Ineos in Antwerp, Belgium and is investing in Manchester United - both owned by Jim Ratcliffe - while at the same time allowing Scotland’s only oil refinery at Grangemouth to close. 

Speaking to media at the protest Kenny MacAskill said:

“The Labour Party promised during the General Election that they would save Grangemouth Refinery and secure the jobs of those who work at the plant. 

“Ian Murray and co at the Scotland Office have sat back and allowed the deindustrialisation of Scotland to unfold in front of their eyes. 

“How can it be that there is money for an Ineos plant in Antwerp and for one of the richest football clubs in the world but none for the cornerstone of Scotland’s industrial base?

“Any notion that a few years down the line we’ll be able to open a plant producing aviation fuel or anything else like that is for the birds. Once these jobs are gone, they’re gone for good.”