UNION officials have accused Keir Starmer of “failing to deliver” on a promise of £200 million worth of investment to protect the future of Grangemouth.
The refinery stopped producing crude oil in late April, leading to the loss of over 400 jobs at the site as well as roles within the supply chain.
A petrochemical plant and fuel distribution hub remain on the site, though members of the union Unite have said a funding package pledged back in February to support transitions to green energy is yet to appear, according to the BBC.
Starmer promised the funding for Grangemouth from the National Wealth Fund at the Scottish Labour Party conference, branding it an “investment in Scotland’s industrial future”.
General secretary for Unite, Sharon Graham, said: “It is little wonder workers are turning away from Labour in their droves when they fail to protect British jobs and critical infrastructure.
"Promises made to the workers of Grangemouth have been broken. Unite produced a clear plan for the site to be transformed, to back workers and create the promised green jobs.
"The government failure to act shows there is absolutely no plan for a jobs transition."
Both the UK and Scottish Governments funded a £1.5m feasibility study called Project Willow, which aimed to investigate alternative uses for the Grangemouth site.
It included options for a range of projects, including waste recycling, bio-feed stock and offshore wind conduits.
The union previously produced a report with full cost details mapping out how the refinery could be transformed to create sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Senior representative for Unite and Grangemouth employee, Chris Hamilton, said: “This government may have forgotten what it promised – but we haven't.
“It must follow through with its promises at pace and do all it can to secure a sustainable future for Grangemouth."
Rutherglen MP and energy minister Michael Shanks said in June that announcements on the future of the site would be coming “soon”, though the UK Government is yet to expand on this.
He claimed over 80 potential investors had showed interest, with Scottish Enterprise handling “due diligence” on such projects.
A UK Government spokesperson told the BBC: “We know this has been an incredibly difficult time for workers and their families.
"When we came to power, there was no overall plan for the future of the Grangemouth refinery and within weeks we delivered an unprecedented support package.
"The National Wealth Fund is investing £200m and we are working closely with investors to advance sustainable, long-term proposals for the site."
