Unite has slammed the government’s net zero strategy, warning that without urgent investment and a proper industrial plan, Labour risks alienating workers and fuelling political backlash.
The intervention comes just a day after the Grangemouth oil refinery officially ceased refining. Unite says the closure marks a major failure of political leadership, with former prime minister Tony Blair also warning that current policy is “doomed to fail”.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“Unite is not against net zero but it will not be achieved without serious investment in new jobs.
“Unite has warned time after time, that all the rhetoric about a joined up industrial strategy and future jobs must be backed up with serious investment that actually delivers. What is Labour waiting for? The time to act is now.
“If they fail to do this, then Labour cannot expect workers to support their net zero plan.”
She added: “The fact is, working class people are losing their jobs and this government has absolutely no plan to replace them.
“Actions speak louder than words. It is quite frankly laughable that Labour has sat back and watched the end of fuel production at Grangemouth, at the same time as the UK is importing green fuel to meet the government’s sustainable air fuel targets.”
Graham claimed the site “could have been a world leader in the production of green air fuel” but instead “Labour backed Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to turn Grangemouth into an import terminal with the loss of jobs”.
She warned: “With 30,000 jobs also due to go in the oil and gas industry by the end of decade, the government needs to stop the talking and begin investing in Britain and green industries.
“If they don’t, no one should be surprised when workers vote with their feet.”
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