MP Ged wants to set up task force
Ged Killen MP has asked Clare Haughey to join his fight for a task force in a bid to save the 2 Sisters plant from closure – but the MSP is not convinced of his plan’s worth.
The Labour MP has been campaigning for the Scottish Government to step in to save local jobs and hoped that the intervention of a local SNP representative could convince Holyrood to take action.
He has written to constituency MSP Clare Haughey for support. In the letter he said:“As an MSP from the party of government, I believe your intervention in this matter would be most helpful in encouraging the Scottish Government to reconsider and set-up a task force.
“It goes without saying that this is a very difficult and uncertain time for our constituents employed at the factory and I hope you will agree it is important every avenue remains open until all options have been considered and bringing together the key partners in a taskforce can only be helpful in this endeavour.”
Ms Haughey responded by saying: “Mr Killen did not outline any steps he feels the Scottish Government hasn’t yet taken, nor did he suggest any different avenues to explore.
“When I spoke with the management and unions on March 30, neither of them could explain any particular benefits of establishing a so-called‘task force’, and both were happy with the assistance the Scottish Government is to providing.
“The Scottish Government, and its agencies like Scottish Enterprise and PACE, have already been working constructively with the company and unions, and they will continue to do so. Specifically, they are looking at food processing, marketing and capital grants to help with the company’s capital issues, as well as at training, research and development support, and support from the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service and Skills Development Scotland.
“I hope Mr Killen has not sought to play political games over this as people’s jobs are at stake. If he has any sensible proposals as to how we can work together, then my door is always open.”
Mr Killen still believes a taskforce could assist in keeping the plant open. He added:“While useful discussions have taken place with stakeholders, these have been independent and, in my view, fragmented. If the factory has any prospect of remaining open, what we need urgently is to bring these parties together in an effort to reach consensus on a viable proposal.”