Grangemouth Stops Refining Oil

Labour Failure Laid Bare

The cessation of all oil refining at Grangemouth today marks the failure of UK industrial strategy in Scotland, the SNP has said.

After over 100 years of refining oil at the site, production has now ended. It means all fuel needed in Scotland must now be imported, and the direct loss of 400 jobs at the site alongside potentially thousands elsewhere in the supply chain.

Despite intervening to save the British Steel site at Scunthorpe in England, and investing £22 billion in Carbon Capture sites in former industrial hubs in the North East and North West of England, no such investment has been made by the UK Government in Scotland to save Grangemouth.  

The decision to end all oil refinery at Grangemouth was branded an 'absolute disgrace' by MSP Michelle Thomson https://t.co/cZn05OIqW7 pic.twitter.com/LWajFsCwCB

— STV News (@STVNews) April 29, 2025

Moreover, Scottish Labour have just voted against a Holyrood motion demanding the UK Government take urgent action to safeguard the future of Scotland’s industry.

The motion calls for the UK Government to intervene in Grangemouth in a similar manner to the way the UK Government intervened at Scunthorpe to save British Steel and says “that the UK Government should give similar consideration to its engagement with the Grangemouth oil refinery, given its significance to national resilience and high-quality job opportunities.“

Another focus of the debate was the lack of UK Government investment in Project Acorn – a Scottish Carbon Capture project – while similar sites in the North East and North West of England receive £22 billion funding from the UK Government.

Despite this, not a single Scottish Labour MSP backed the motion. 

This afternoon, Labour had the chance to stand up for Scottish industry by backing a call to give Grangemouth the same support as British Steel – they failed to do so. pic.twitter.com/FJHb4MwFIr

— The SNP (@theSNP) April 29, 2025