Political Storm Erupts Over Fife Plant Closure
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a blistering attack on both the UK and Scottish governments, accusing them of "industrial vandalism" following the announcement that the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran will close in February. The shutdown puts approximately 400 jobs on the line, with plant management directly blaming government policy for the decision.
Badenoch's Scathing Critique
In a strongly-worded article for the Scottish Daily Mail, Ms Badenoch branded the SNP's target to achieve net zero by 2045 as both "unachievable" and "economically illiterate." She didn't spare Labour either, accusing ministers from Sir Keir Starmer's government of having no viable plan to save the Mossmorran facility while SNP ministers attempt to "wash their hands of responsibility."
The Tory leader warned that families in Fife now face "fear and uncertainty" over the Christmas period, stating: "There is an unavoidable truth. Labour and the SNP's reckless, ideological net zero agenda is tearing through Scottish industry and the consequences are real."
Ms Badenoch elaborated further, claiming: "The North Sea is being choked, the offshore industry is in crisis, and communities are paying the price. People aren't losing their jobs because ethylene is no longer needed. They're losing them because Labour and the SNP have decided these jobs shouldn't exist in Britain."
Industry Leaders Point Finger at Government
ExxonMobil chairman Paul Greenwood reinforced these concerns during an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, describing the closure as partly resulting from "deliberate" government decisions. Mr Greenwood didn't mince words, stating: "Fife ethylene plant and its closure is an example of how bad policy is going to hurt jobs and undermine economic growth in the UK."
He issued a stark warning to policymakers: "The Government needs to understand that the whole industrial base of the UK is at risk unless they wake up and they realise the damage that their economic policies are doing."
The political context behind these claims includes Labour's enforcement of a ban on new oil and gas licences since coming to power, while the SNP Government had previously published a draft energy strategy featuring a presumption against new oil and gas licences.
Government Responses and Counterclaims
At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that workers at Mossmorran are experiencing a "difficult time" following the closure announcement. When challenged by Ms Badenoch about whether the loss of UK industry represented "the price the country has to pay for having a clueless Chancellor," the Prime Minister defended his government's position.
Sir Keir revealed: "We have been meeting the company for more than six months and explored every possible reasonable avenue. They have been facing losses for the past five years... and they are currently losing £1 million a week." He dismissed Ms Badenoch's criticism by stating she "hasn't got an ounce of credibility" on the matter.
Meanwhile, SNP Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes expressed surprise at how quickly ExxonMobil moved towards announcing closure plans. Speaking on BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, she noted: "You have to look at the reasons ExxonMobil have given for their decision and I have pushed them on these decisions in our conversations. But they have cited some of the policy and fiscal decisions that have been made in the UK that are making business less competitive."
Ms Forbes confirmed the Scottish Government's immediate priorities include investigating whether there's an alternative future for the site while providing support for the workforce during what she described as a "really troubling time" for all affected.
As the political debate intensifies, the fate of 400 workers and the future of industrial policy in Scotland hang in the balance, with all sides pointing fingers while communities in Fife brace for significant economic impact.
