Scotland's Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has said she has 'no interest in a spat' with the UK Government following confusion over two separate taskforces set up to support over 300 workers at risk of losing their jobs at the Mossmorran ethylene plant in Fife.
Speaking to the PA news agency at the plant on Tuesday, Ms Forbes played down any suggestion of conflict, saying reports of a row did a 'disservice to the workers'. She emphasised that her objective was to identify alternative employment for those at risk and safeguard the plant's future.
The row emerged after Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander invited Ms Forbes to a Fife Council-led roundtable on Monday, which she did not attend. Instead, Scottish public finance minister Ivan McKee attended for the Scottish Government. Ms Forbes visited Mossmorran on Tuesday, meeting with the company, local council, workers and trade unions.
Ms Forbes defended the decision to hold an additional meeting on Tuesday, stating it had been agreed last week following engagement with unions and Scottish Enterprise. She said she only learned of Monday's meeting later, but was 'more than delighted' to support it, adding that the primary interest was the workforce.
Global energy giant ExxonMobil announced on Tuesday that it will close its Fife manufacturing plant in February, putting 179 directly-employed jobs and 250 contractor roles at risk. Up to 50 staff may transfer to the Fawley petrochemical complex in Hampshire. Following Monday's meeting, Mr Alexander said defence firm Babcock had signalled a willingness to consider employing some of the affected workers.
