Fresh calls are being made to reconsider the future of Grangemouth as a vital part of the United Kingdom’s energy infrastructure.
SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn has urged the Labour Government to rethink its stance on the site following reports that British Steel may be brought into public ownership.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves are said to be “aligned” on the idea of nationalising British Steel, with Whitehall sources calling it a matter of “huge strategic importance”.
Flynn believes if British Steel is deemed worthy of such intervention, then Grangemouth deserves the same treatment.
He warned that ignoring the site’s critical role in energy supply would be a failure to understand the wider context of current global volatility.
Grangemouth is currently the UK’s only oil refinery, supplying fuel and power critical to national operations.
A recent report from Project Willow found the site must transition to green energy to remain viable, including the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Despite this, the UK Government has been vague on how its promised £200 million support will be delivered, with concerns the money may only come in the form of loans or require third-party investment.
Flynn has now challenged Labour to prove it is serious about long-term energy security by reconsidering nationalisation for the Scottish site.
He said energy security was directly linked to national security and argued that the economic chaos triggered by global tensions must be met with bold action.
The SNP leader pointed to the increasingly unstable global picture, including trade tensions with the US, as a reason to keep control over key national infrastructure.
He also highlighted Scotland’s huge energy potential and its role in supporting both the UK and European energy markets.
Flynn insisted that in this shifting global landscape, the UK must use all of its assets wisely to protect growth, jobs and stability.
He argued that if the world truly has changed, as Labour frequently claim, then the party must back that up with bold economic choices.
That includes breaking from restrictive fiscal rules and putting real investment into areas like energy.
For Flynn, Grangemouth is a defining test of whether the UK Government is ready to match its rhetoric with action.
He called on the Labour leadership to rise to the challenge and put strategic priorities like Grangemouth at the heart of their economic plan.
With public ownership back on the table for industries of national significance, many are now watching to see whether Grangemouth will finally be recognised as one of them.
