Douglas Alexander blasts SNP Government for 'weaponising' Mossmorran closure

The Scottish Secretary has written to Kate Forbes to say he was “disappointed” that SNP Deputy First Minister announced a Scottish Government taskforce instead of joining the Fife Council-led one.

The East Lothian MP said “workers deserve better” than the SNP’s approach.

It comes as 400 jobs are at risk after oil giant ExxonMobil announced plans last week to close the chemical plant.

Mr Alexander is set to meet with Fife Council on Monday, but Ms Forbes is set to have her own summit on Tuesday.

Mr Alexander wrote in his letter that he suggested a council-led taskforce to the Scottish Government on Friday: “I wrote that letter for two reasons. Firstly, and above all, I thought and think that the workers and site at Mossmorran deserve unity rather than political squabbles between Governments in responding to Exxon’s closure decision.

“Secondly, I recently spoke about the critical role of local government in shaping Scotland’s future and the need to see that reflected in decision-making. The centrality of Fife Council’s interest, indeed its obligation, in addressing the implications for the Fife economy and the downstream supply chain seems to me core to any effective response.”

"I was therefore disappointed that, without any further discussion and despite your knowledge of the position of Fife Council, you press-released your decision to convene a solely Scottish Government-led taskforce, notwithstanding the need for our Governments to work together.”

He added that UK Government officials would go to the Scottish Government’s “discussions” on Tuesday.

But he hit out that “the workers at Mossmorran deserve better than your proposed approach.

“The affected workers deserve a genuinely Team Scotland approach with the UK Government, Scottish Government and Fife Council working together, with each bringing their expertise to bear on the basis of equal respect and shared purpose.

“This cooperation has the strongest prospect of best serving the interests of all those affected."

He added: “What should matter here is shared purpose, not the weaponisation of process as politics.”

Ms Forbes has asked the UK Government to use "levers for an industrial intervention" to save the Fife Ethylene Plant.

She cited the UK Government nationalising British Steel in Scunthorpe of an example of how it could be done.

But Mr Alexander said the closure was a "commercial decision" and that his focus would be on "supporting the workforce in the months ahead”.

The ExxonMobil plant – which produces the base material for plastics – is expected to shut in February. The decision puts more than 400 jobs at risk, including 180 staff at the factory and 200 contractors.

It comes just months after Scotland’s last oil refinery at Grangemouth ceased refining oil.

Some 400 workers were made redundant after owners Petroineos - a joint venture between Chinese state owned PetroChina and Manchester United owner Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos - decided to convert the plant into a fuels import depot.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “The UK Government have had since April to act to support the workforce and have done nothing. I'm focused on the workers at risk and that requires strong leadership.

“Scottish Enterprise has the necessary expertise and experience to identify potential alternative investors and employers for the Mossmorran site, which is why I confirmed to the Scottish Parliament last Tuesday that I would convene a task force specifically for Fife and Mossmorran. They have already began that work. To establish a second taskforce lead by Fife Council sounds like a duplication of effort.

"I called Tuesday's summit with the support of the Trade Unions to ensure there is an early discussion and provide updates on steps already taken this week to secure a future for Mossmorran. To wait two weeks as the Secretary of State suggested in his letter is far too long.

"The Scottish Government will work with all partners, including Scottish Enterprise, the UK Government and Fife Council to ensure we mitigate the impact of this decision and secure a future for the site."