Labour Government will 'let Scotland down' if Grangemouth refinery closes, says MP

Brian Leishman has urged the UK Government to take over the refinery, which is due to close next year.

The Labour Government will be "letting Scotland down" if the Grangemouth refinery shuts, the local MP has said.

Brian Leishman has urged the UK Government to take over the refinery, which is due to close next year.

The newly-elected Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth said his party's Government would be "letting the constituency down and letting all of Scotland down” if the refinery shuts.

Petroineos announced last week it would cease refining operations at Grangemouth in spring 2025 and proceed with a plan to convert the site into an fuels import terminal.

The company, which is a joint venture between the Chinese state and Ineos, said it would begin a formal consultation period with the 475 staff currently employed by its refinery business.

Leishman told STV on Thursday: “My message to Keir Starmer, the entire Labour leadership, and also the First Minister John Swinney is to get around the table with Petroineos, and get to the bottom just to see exactly what the books say about the refinery, and exhaust all opportunities to make sure the refinery stays open.

“And ultimately what we need in this country is nationalisation of the refinery.

“As a Labour MP within a Labour government, I am putting forward that case and I am doing that on a daily basis.

“My position has been consistent and it will remain so – Grangemouth must stay open.”

Asked if ignoring those calls would mean letting down the local community, Leishman said: “Absolutely. The local community, in fact all of Scotland, is dependent on this.

“When we look at the industrial devastation we had four decades ago with the mining community, something similar is now playing out at Grangemouth.

“The miners four decades ago kept Scotland warm and now Grangemouth refinery workers keep Scotland moving.”

Asked if the Labour government would be letting people down if it did not step in, Leishman said: “Yes, of course it is. It’s letting the constituency down and it’s letting all of Scotland down.”

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Leishman told the Record he had spoken to Labour Energy Secretary Ed Miliband about the potential closure.

He said: "We had a meeting. He has no doubts about my stance on this."

He wouldn't speculate on whether he believed the Government would intervene or not.

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