Greene comments as Grangemouth stops refining oil

Responding to confirmation from Petroineos that Grangemouth has stopped processing crude oil, ending oil refining in Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene MSP said:

"This is a test of the Scottish Government's commitment to a just transition for workers. The Scottish Government need to explore every viable route to giving Grangemouth a future.

"Unfortunately they seem to have wasted five years when they could have been getting ahead of the problem. Petroineos are not covering themselves in glory but workers will have little sympathy for John Swinney.

“The SNP Government has always been more interested in chasing headlines than it has been in building a proper industrial strategy. It’s the recurring theme of the ferries fiasco, the failure to manufacture the huge windfarms that sit off our coast, and the SNP’s slow-footedness on securing a future for the skilled workers at Grangemouth.

“We need a real macro economic strategy which puts value for money and realistic exit strategies at its core. It’s now time for Scotland to fully embrace the industries of the future once and for all, and I will hold the SNP's feet to the fire over its dismal economic record."