Tag Archives: grangemouth

Caron Lindsay

Vince Cable orders review of industrial law to investigate union and employer behaviour

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 17th November 2013 - 11:30 am

One of the things that made me wince recently was the experience of a Grangemouth manager whose family were traumatised by the appearance of a union mob on their doorstep. There is no way that sort of action can be described as anything other than intimidatory and it is right and proper that it should be investigated. People’s homes are off limits. I was livid last year when UK Uncut demonstrated outside Nick Clegg’s house, although to be fair, it was a good natured demo and Nick himself was quite relaxed about it.

You can always rely on the …

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Alistair Carmichael MP

Alistair Carmichael MP writes…how the Lib Dems in government worked together for Grangemouth

By Alistair Carmichael MP | Fri 25th October 2013 - 7:55 pm

Three weeks ago when I was appointed as Secretary of State for Scotland many journalists and commentators (and even a few posters on Lib Dem Voice!) forecast a period of strife ahead as the “bruiser” from the Whips’ Office took over at Dover House.

I am not expecting anyone to say they were wrong but I hope that maybe some of them are feeling just a little sheepish this weekend.

The threat to the future of the petro-chemical plant at Grangemouth was one of the most serious to face Scotland for several years. It also produced a degree of political unity and …

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Caron Lindsay

Grangemouth: a summary of Liberal Democrat reaction

By Caron Lindsay | Thu 24th October 2013 - 9:30 am

It’s a grim day in Central Scotland as 800 people face losing their jobs at Grangemouth. It’s impossible to overestimate the effect that Ineos’s decision to close the petrochemical plant, which shares the site with Scotland’s only refinery, will have on the Scottish economy.

There are still some hopes that Ineos can be persuaded to reverse their decision, which was based on the Unite trade union’s rejection of changes to terms and conditions of employment. A further meeting takes place this morning. Unite are reported to have offered major concessions. Logic would dictate that if they’ve been offered what they want, Ineos should keep the plant open. We will have to wait and see.

If Ineos don’t change their minds, efforts will shift to finding a new buyer for the site

It’s been good to see Scotland’s two governments working together very collaboratively, broadly saying the same sorts of things. In the UK government, three Liberal Democrats share responsibility for this: Ed Davey, Alistair Carmichael and Vince Cable. Here’s what they and others have been saying:

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