Grangemouth closure ‘not comparable’ to British Metal, MPs instructed

The closure of Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland is “not comparable” to the scenario at British Metal in Scunthorpe, MPs have been instructed.

Enterprise Secretary Jonathan Reynolds mentioned an emergency legislation aimed toward saving the Lincolnshire web site from closure was an “distinctive scenario”.

SNP Westminster chief Stephen Flynn challenged Reynolds over similarities to the closure of the Scottish refinery on the Firth of Forth – with the lack of 400 jobs.

It got here throughout a uncommon Saturday sitting of parliament to go laws to save lots of the the British Metal plant, opening the door for full nationalisation.

Reynolds instructed the Commons: “I perceive that some have requested about precedent or referenced different troubled industrial conditions.

“To be clear once more, that is an distinctive scenario, a novel scenario.

“The query for all members is whether or not we as a rustic need to proceed to own a metal trade, will we need to make the development metal and rail we want right here within the UK, or will we need to be depending on abroad imports?”

Flynn requested Reynolds whether or not the Labour get together would again the same invoice for Grangemouth.

Scotland’s solely oil refinery has been marked for closure by proprietor Petroineos

About 400 of the two,000 jobs which are based mostly on the industrial advanced shall be misplaced.

The Aberdeen South MP mentioned: “Many minds proper now shall be very a lot centered on the scenario in Grangemouth, the place we all know that a whole bunch of jobs are going to be misplaced instantly, 1000’s of jobs within the provide chain.

“Would the Labour Occasion again it in the identical means as it’s backing this Invoice at this time?”

However Reynolds mentioned the UK authorities had pledged £200m to safe Grangemouth’s “long-term future”.

He added: “It’s not a comparable scenario and the behaviour of the corporate just isn’t akin to the scenario on this case.”

A report printed final month mentioned as much as 800 jobs may very well be created over the following 15 years on the Grangemouth web site

The Undertaking Willow research, funded collectively by the Scottish and UK governments, units out 9 areas the place there are potential alternatives for inexperienced industries.

It mentioned jobs may very well be created in areas like sustainable aviation gasoline, hydrogen manufacturing and plastics recycling however it might require £3.5bn of personal funding.

Brian Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, has additionally referred to as for nationalisation of the Scottish refinery.

He instructed BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland there have been “placing similarities between Scunthorpe and Grangemouth”.

He mentioned: “The federal government ought to intervene at Grangemouth to increase refinrery operations till the brand new vitality industies of the long run that we’re going to want are prepared.

“That’s the solely means that we are able to actually, really, obtain a simply transition for employees and communities.

“The PM recognises the strategic significance of Scunthorpe metal, and he actually ought to do the identical for Grangemouth oil.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned the laws for British Metal would permit ministers to “take management” of the location and cease its Chinese language proprietor from closing its blast furnaces.

Its homeowners Jingye mentioned the furnaces have been “not financially sustainable”.

Starmer mentioned steelmaking was “important for our future” and that he would all the time “act within the nationwide curiosity to guard British jobs and British employees”.