A LABOUR MP has slammed the Prime Minister’s silence on shared services redundancies at Grangemouth as “unacceptable.”

Petroineos’s decision to pay 18 months’ wages in compensation to workers set to lose their jobs with the closure of  Scotland’s only oil refinery later this year was trumpeted by Sir Keir Starmer at Scottish Labour conference last month.

It remains unclear however whether those terms cover other workers on site also facing the dole as a result of the closure, prompting Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman to challenge Sir Keir on the matter at Prime Minister’s Questions on March 19.

With no answer forthcoming, Mr Leishman wrote to the Prime Minister on March 26, saying: “The redundancy protection assurances provided this far appear to apply exclusively to Petroineos employees, due to to specific funding arrangements associated with its Chinese stakeholders.

“Unfortunately, this leaves shared services workers employed by Ineos O&P — including critical roles such as emergency responders — without confirmed assurances of support.”

He called on the Prime Minister to “confirm explicitly” that shared services workers would be in scope for the 18 months’ pay protection, but with the closure potentially just weeks away they remain in limbo without any response from No 10.

Demanding Mr Starmer end the uncertainty, Mr Leishman told the Star: “The Prime Minister’s silence on what the redundancy package is for the workers of Grangemouth refinery, and the shared service workers whose employment will also be terminated as the refinery closes, is unacceptable. 

“He has had plenty time to detail and explain what happens next for the workers.”

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: “We are aware that there is a consultation process underway and expect the company to set out its next steps shortly.”