DIAGEO ASSURANCES GIVEN TO JENNY GILRUTH MSP BY FIRST MINISTER
Published date : 27 Apr 2017
MID FIFE & GLENROTHES MSP RAISES LEVEN CONCERNS AT FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTIONS
Jenny Gilruth MSP has been assured by the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, that the Scottish Government will do all it can to support workers at the Diageo site in Leven following recent concerns over possible job losses.
Last week, Diageo confirmed it had begun a consultation period with staff, with the potential for up to 100 job losses in Scotland – including up to 70 at its site in Leven. The GMB union had stated the job losses were a result of a Tory Hard Brexit, despite having previously raised its concerns over the impact of Brexit on the Scottish drinks industry with the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell MP.
The Mid Fife & Glenrothes MSP raised her concerns in a constituency question at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday 27th.
Jenny Gilruth MSP asked:
“The First Minister will be aware that last Thursday, Diageo announced plans to cut up to 100 jobs in Scotland, potentially affecting up to 70 workers at their Leven premises in my constituency. The GMB union has laid the blame squarely at a damaging Tory Hard Brexit.
“What assurances can the First Minister give my constituents who now potentially face redundancy due to Conservative recklessness?”
The First Minister responded:
“I was very concerned to learn that Diageo has begun a consultation with its staff over potential job losses at its site in Leven and Shieldhall, and I know that this will be an extremely anxious time for the company’s employees and their families.
“Keith Brown has already arranged to meet with Diageo and officials in Scottish Enterprise are fully engaged with the company already. We will do all we can to explore all possible options for supporting the business and protecting jobs in Scotland.
“While the families and individuals affected by this situation also have the right to expect a similar response from the UK Government, I think it is really troubling that the main union, the GMB, appears to have raised concerns about the impact of Brexit on these jobs and got very little response from the UK Government. This is yet another example of the threat that Brexit does pose to Scotland – what Ruth Davidson used to tell us but doesn’t any longer – but what I still believe, and examples like this sadly still illustrate, but we will continue to do everything possible to support the workers at Diageo.”
Commenting, Jenny Gilruth MSP said:
“While there is ongoing anxiety for the workers at the Diageo site in Leven, I greatly welcome these comments from the First Minister and am pleased that the Scottish Government will offer its full support to those affected.
“Any job losses due to Brexit show the impact this reckless Tory plan has on real people’s lives. The people in my constituency deserve job security, and I look forward to working with the Scottish Government to do whatever we can to support my constituents throughout this process.”
Keith Brown MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, will soon join Jenny Gilruth MSP to meet with Diageo to discuss the situation.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
The full video of First Minister’s Questions from Thursday 27th April can be seen at:
Jenny Gilruth MSP’s question can be seen from 16m 38s.
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