A row has broken out between the Scottish and UK governments over how to respond to the threatened closure of Mossmorran, with both Douglas Alexander and Kate Forbes inviting each other to rival meetings over the site.
The Deputy First Minister announced last week that she will visit the ethylene plant on Tuesday for a summit and invited ExxonMobil, the GMB and Unite unions, Scottish Enterprise, the UK Government, Fife Council, Fife College, the Scottish National Investment Bank and local MSPs to attend.
However, the Scottish Secretary wants Ms Forbes to instead join a group led by Fife Council, and to attend a meeting of local business leaders set for Monday.
He wrote to the Deputy First Minister on Friday to suggest the council-led taskforce.
In a new letter to Ms Forbes, sent on Sunday, Mr Alexander wrote that he was “disappointed” the SNP politician had formed a “solely Scottish Government-led taskforce”.
“I wrote that letter for two reasons. Firstly, and above all, I thought and think that the workers and site at Mossmorran deserve unity rather than political squabbles between Governments in responding to Exxon’s closure decision.
“Secondly, I recently spoke about the critical role of local government in shaping Scotland’s future and the need to see that reflected in decision-making.
"The centrality of Fife Council’s interest, indeed its obligation, in addressing the implications for the Fife economy and the downstream supply chain seems to me core to any effective response.”
He said he was disappointed that, "without any further discussion and despite your knowledge of the position of Fife Council, you press-released your decision to convene a solely Scottish Government-led taskforce, notwithstanding the need for our Governments to work together.”
Mr Alexander called for a "Team Scotland" approach.
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Global energy giant ExxonMobil announced on Tuesday that it will close its manufacturing plant in Fife.
The Fife Ethylene Plant – which produces the base material for plastics – is expected to shut in February.
According to the company, 179 directly employed jobs will be at risk along with 250 contractors, with the possibility of 50 staff transferring to the Fawley Petrochemical Complex almost 500 miles away in Hampshire.
Mr Alexander told Ms Forbes that he would “ask that officials attend your discussions on Tuesday” but believes “the workers at Mossmorran deserve better than your proposed approach”.
He wrote: “I will be accepting the Fife Council’s invitation to attend a meeting with you at Fife House tomorrow.
“I hope that you too will attend that meeting in order that we can use this early opportunity to resolve the outstanding governance issues for a task force, to ensure resources are combined to best serve the interests of Mossmorran and its workforce.”
Ms Forbes hit back at the Labour frontbencher, and accused ministers in London of sitting on their hands.
She said: “The UK Government have had since April to act to support the workforce and have done nothing. I’m focused on the workers at risk and that requires strong leadership.
“Scottish Enterprise has the necessary expertise and experience to identify potential alternative investors and employers for the Mossmorran site, which is why I confirmed to the Scottish Parliament last Tuesday that I would convene a taskforce specifically for Fife and Mossmorran.
“They have already began that work. To establish a second taskforce led by Fife Council sounds like a duplication of effort.
“I called Tuesday’s summit with the support of the trade unions to ensure there is an early discussion and provide updates on steps already taken this week to secure a future for Mossmorran. To wait two weeks as the Secretary of State suggested in his letter is far too long.
“The Scottish Government will work with all partners, including Scottish Enterprise, the UK Government and Fife Council to ensure we mitigate the impact of this decision and secure a future for the site.”
