ANAS Sarwar has claimed the SNP and Tories are to blame for job losses at Grangemouth oil refinery after he was challenged on previous promises he would protect workers.
The Scottish Labour leader had previously said the party would intervene to protect jobs at Grangemouth, which stopped refining crude oil at the site on Tuesday.
Around 430 jobs are expected to be lost as a result. Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman told the Sunday National that the closure could also risk fuel shortages and even rationing.
The SNP said Sarwar's comments showed the MSP was "detached from reality".
On BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Sarwar was confronted with previous comments he made stating jobs would be protected and hundreds of millions of pounds would be put into an energy transition hub at Grangemouth as part of the plan.
He said: “Well, the people that sat back and did nothing was the Tories across the UK, who knew for almost a decade…”
Journalist Martin Geissler interrupted to point out that “400 jobs are going”.
“No, one second Martin, this is really, really serious,” Sarwar replied.
“For almost a decade, the Tories knew what was coming at Grangemouth. The SNP knew what was coming at Grangemouth, and they didn't lift a finger.
“In months, a Labour Party came in and has put 200 million pounds on the table to try and find those investigable propositions.”
Sarwar continued: “…to try and find the investable propositions to get a long term future. And at no point has the SNP or the Tories claimed that they want to nationalise Grangemouth as much as they might want…”
Pushed again on his promise to protect jobs, Geissler pointed out that Sarwar’s party colleague Leishman, MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, was “furious” about the closure and lack of action.
Sarwar replied: “Even John Swinney noted that a UK Labour Government tried consistently to prolong the life of the refinery, but there was an intransigence from the company.”
When the Labour Government’s decision to provide millions of pounds to keep British Steel running and save the Scunthorpe plant were raised, Sarwar said: “Let's compare like for like, if we're talking about the steel industry, what has happened to our two steel sites here in Scotland, what's happened in Lochaber, the SNP sold off to a dodgy businessman.
“Look what's happened there.”
On his previous promises, Sarwar added: “I promised we'd put in hundreds of millions of pounds, we have.”
“You promised to save jobs,” Geissler said.
Sarwar replied: “Look, we are trying to protect the site and the future of the site. That's part of the transition, and that's why we've invested that 200 million pounds for the National Wealth Fund.”
Michelle Thompson, the SNP MSP for Falkirk East who campaigned to keep Grangemouth open, told The National: "During the election campaign, it was Anas Sarwar who promised Labour would be the saviour of Grangemouth.
"Since, he has failed to convince his London bosses that Scotland's last oil refinery was worth saving."
SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: "Anas Sarwar is utterly detached from reality and no excuses can distract the public from seeing right through the Labour party's broken promises. It's no wonder they are slumping in the polls.
"The Scottish Labour leader once promised to stand up to Starmer, but his lack of influence on the Winter Fuel Payment cut, the betrayal of WASPI women, and Grangemouth make clear that Scotland is an afterthought to the Labour government.
"People in Scotland want politicians who stand up for Scotland, not ones that parrot feeble excuses for a Westminster government that has given up on its promise of 'Change'.'
Last week, bosses at Petroineos confirmed refining operations had ended at the Grangemouth site, which had been the only oil refinery in Scotland.
The impending closure of the refinery, which first opened in 1924, led to fears for employment in the area.
In recent months, hundreds of workers have taken voluntary redundancy while a number of compulsory redundancies have also been made.
