Glasgow (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Sir Keir Starmer pledged £200m for Grangemouth refinery to secure jobs and its future, despite criticism it’s too late for workers already laid off.
Under the national wealth fund, £200m will be allocated to Grangemouth to attract up to five firms, with hopes to secure up to £600m in private investment, protecting thousands of jobs in the region.
What did Keir Starmer say about Labour’s response to Grangemouth job losses?
After his speech at Scottish Labour’s conference in Glasgow, Keir Starmer rejected claims that the proposal had come too late for Grangemouth workers facing redundancy.
He explained that Labour had moved swiftly, but creating a credible plan needed time, adding,
“It’s very easy to put proposals on the table that don’t hold water. What I want to do is take the time to do this properly.”
Mr Starmer stated,
“We’re not talking about just a sort of something that tides people over, not something for the next three or four years. It’s a generational opportunity for Grangemouth.”
Is Labour failing to address the Grangemouth crisis in Scotland?
Labour in Scotland faces intense scrutiny over the Grangemouth crisis, with union leaders criticizing the British government for slow action, prompting protests from members outside the party conference in Glasgow.
The Labour Party has accused the previous Tory government and SNP officials of inaction despite prior knowledge, with a £100m growth deal revealed after the election.
Labour’s popularity has faltered after eliminating the universal winter fuel payment, denying compensation to Waspi pensioners, and hiking national insurance. The party also faced controversy over undeclared gifts to Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
What did Keir Starmer say at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow?
During the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow, the Labour leader affirmed that the United States is right in its view that the UK and Europe should take more responsibility for defence and security concerns.
The Prime Minister said,
“The UK will assume primary responsibility in ensuring the continent’s security,
adding,
“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores.”
Mr Starmer stated,
“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”
He said,
“We can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security.”
While referring to defence spending, Keir Starmer pledged to outline a plan to raise the UK’s defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, from its current 2.3% but did not provide a specific timeline.
Insiders suggest that the Prime Minister may reveal details regarding defence spending during his visit to Washington DC, where he will meet with Mr Trump, ahead of the planned spring announcement.
How will Grangemouth’s fate impact Labour’s future in Scotland?
Scottish Labour, with its current 18% poll ratings, faces the strong possibility of another defeat to the SNP in next year’s Holyrood election. The outcome for Grangemouth will be an essential factor in determining results in neighbouring constituencies.
John Swinney, the First Minister and SNP leader, intensified the pressure last week by announcing an extra £25m in Scottish government funding for the Grangemouth ‘just transition fund,’ which complements the £7.8m included in the budget.
Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar influence
Opinion Matters surveyed on behalf of Big Partnership, which surveyed around 1,000 individuals between February 14 and 18. The findings revealed that around 30% believed Keir Starmer would have a greater political influence on their decision, while only 12.4% stated that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar would have any influence on their decision.