MACASKILL SLAMS TWEEDLEDUM LABOUR AND TWEEDLEDEE SNP FOR INACTION ON GRANGEMOUTH

ALBA Depute Leader, Kenny MacAskill, has condemned both Labour and SNP for “complete inactivity in the battle to save Grangemouth refinery”

He said;

“On this entire planet there is no significant oil and gas producer who does not have their own refining capacity. No real government would stand for it. And yet in Scotland we supposedly have two governments but even working together, they are as useless as a damp firework. Merely parroting “it’s a commercial decision” and mumbling “just transition” does not cut it for a young skilled workforce facing imminent redundancy.

"The oil industry should be instructed to refine at Grangemouth on environmental grounds. Ineos should be told that their £500 million of credit to develop at Antwerp will be reviewed if they proceed with closure. They should also consider public ownership until a suitable buyer can be identified. Above all, Westminster and Holyrood politicians should look like they give a damn instead of being mere bystanders while allowing a significant part Scotland’s industrial infrastructure is wiped off the map.

"People elect governments to defend their interests and ensure we are not run by oil and gas companies. However, in Scotland we are stuck with Tweedledum Labour and Tweedledee SNP, with one as useless as the other. Grangemouth shows it is long past time for fundamental change in Scottish politics.”