London (Parliament Politics Maganize) – The Prime Minister was questioned over whether he would step in to assist save the hundreds of Scottish jobs at risk.
Rishi Sunak has declined to guarantee the future of Scotland’s last-remaining oil refinery. Asked by STV News during a visit to Angus, the Prime Minister expressed the UK Government was in touch with the Scottish Government to keep the Grangemouth workers at risk.
However, he would not express whether he would interfere to save the Falkirk plant. Around 400 jobs are anticipated when refining operations discontinue at the site, which supplies about 70% of the fuel to Scotland’s filling stations.
Owners Petroineos expressed the refinery will work as usual until at least spring 2025 but will begin transitioning to an oil import airfield. The firm stated the refinery is “highly inefficient” and cannot continue to run at a loss.
Questioned what action he would bring to uphold the refinery open, Sunak conveyed: “I know it will be a concerning time for all the workers at the refinery. “And we’re talking to the Scottish Government to talk through the site’s long-term future. The initial decision was a commercial decision for the owners.”
The Conservative Party leader was questioned whether he would alter UK regulations to allow Grangemouth to transition to a biofuel refinery.
“As I declared, it’s a commercial decision for the refinery’s owners,” he stated. Sunak expressed his party remained the only one supporting Scotland’s oil and gas industry in the northeast.
“You’ve got the Labour Party who want to ban North Sea oil and gas,” he said. “The SNP who have not backed the industry at all.
“In contrast, we are making certain there are annual licensing rounds. We’ve been undeniable that it’s an essential part of our future in the growth. It’s good for energy security, our economy, and the UK, including Scottish jobs.”
During his travel to Montrose, the Prime Minister was also questioned whether any tax cuts in the chancellor’s budget next week could indicate less money for public services arriving in Scotland. He stated: “Scotland is already acquiring a record block grant of £41bn – more money for Scotland in the last two fiscal events.
“There’s a record share of money from the UK Government to Scotland. On top of that, the UK Government is funding directly in Scotland in local neighborhoods across the nation, whether that’s the new ferries in Fair Isle, whether that’s in Aberdeen itself in the city center, or indeed the new freeports that we’ve made that are drawing jobs and investment.
“When it comes to taxes, the UK Government has already provided a tax cut for millions of people in work, worth about £450 for an average employee on £35,000 that kicked in in January, indicating that our plan is functioning.
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