LABOUR is facing demands to follow its nationalisation of British Steel with nationalising and saving Grangemouth, Scotland’s only oil refinery.

SNP First Minister John Swinney called for state ownership today as he commented on the economic uncertainty sweeping the globe.

He urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to ditch the “self-imposed economic straitjacket” of her fiscal rules.

“The world is changing around us and quite simply, the UK government needs to change too,” he said. “If British Steel is to be nationalised to protect it, then so too should Grangemouth.

“This is what it means to get serious about Scotland’s economic future. Given the scale of the threat, anything less is not good enough.”

Outspoken critic of Scottish and British governments’ inaction on Grangemouth’s closure, Labour MP for Alloa & Grangemouth Brian Leishman told the Star: “The government has done the right thing and stepped in to save Scunthorpe.

“But it raises the question of why has the same course of action not been taken for the Grangemouth refinery?

“The government has no credible industrial strategy for Scotland if the Grangemouth refinery closes and the new energy industries are not ready. 

“Of course the government should do the same for Grangemouth. It makes perfect sense that the government is in charge of keynotes of national infrastructure that we rely on.  

“The Prime Minister and his government should step in, take control and extend the life of the Grangemouth refinery until the new energy industries are ready. 

“That’s the only way we can have a truly just transition that looks after workers, their communities and Scotland’s fuel and national security.”