Mossmorran funding promise a “lifeline” for community and workers
Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Mark Ruskell has said that new funding for Mossmorran could be a “lifeline” for the community and workers.
The Scottish Government announced plans to deliver £9m of funding to the communities around Mossmorran over the next three years to support areas affected by the site closure. £3m will be made available in 2026-2027.
This follows repeated calls from the Greens for the Scottish Government to provide Fife with a transition fund to support workers and the community.
Details of the funding announced today remain unclear, including whether the new fund for Mossmorran will include a jobs prioritisation scheme for laid off workers similar to Grangemouth.
Mark said:
“It’s been two months since ExxonMobil announced the closure of their Mossmorran site in Fife. And for too long, workers and the community have been left without any real, tangible support from the Scottish Government.
“The Scottish Greens have always been clear – the Government needs a plan of action, and Fife desperately needs funding to help build a fairer, more sustainable future.
“The new funding announced today could be a lifeline for communities and workers affected by the closure but we need to see assurances from the Government that any funding made available will put communities and workers at the heart of plans to restore the site and grow new skilled jobs.
“We need to see a jobs prioritisation scheme, like at Grangemouth, whereby it is a clear condition of any grants made to businesses through the fund that they will guarantee job interviews to those made redundant by the Exxon plant’s closure.
"Greens and trade unions have always pushed hard for a properly funded, worker and community led plan because we all knew this closure was inevitable. Ministers cannot claim to have been taken by surprise. There isn’t time to waste.”