GRAY DIAGEO HYPOCRISY EXPOSED

LABOUR LEADER FAILS TO PUT JOBS BEFORE PARTY POLITICS

Labour leader Iain Gray’s hypocrisy in his attempts to attack the Scottish Government over Diageo has been exposed as an interview with the Scotsman – prior to the Diageo announcement this week – reveals he would have taken part in the march for jobs – despite attacking the First Minister for it.

In the interview he also welcomed the efforts of John Swinney and the First Minister to produce an alternative plan to Diageo’s Kilmarnock closure.

Reported in the Scotsman today Mr Gray said:

"I would have gone on the protest march as first minister.

"Labour's take on this has been to work with the trade unions. That's why I probably would have gone on the protest march because the trade unions were a big part of organising that."

He added: "John Swinney and the First Minister have got involved in the campaign and they have made sure that Scottish Enterprise has worked to try and produce the alternative plan."

SNP MSP for North Ayrshire Kenneth Gibson, who took part in the campaign against Diageo’s closure plans said:

“These comments expose the utter hypocrisy of Iain Gray’s actions in Parliament. Fighting for jobs in Scotland should always come before party politicking, and that is the test Iain Gray keeps on failing.

“Labour must, like the Scottish Government, focus on working with the taskforce, the trade unions and the company to ensure the best deal for those workers and for Kilmarnock who are now facing up to a future without Johnnie Walker.”

“Instead Iain Gray decided to attack Mr Salmond for attending a rally which he himself said he would have gone to had he been First Minister.

"Iain Gray has no idea what direction he or his party are facing. He is fumbling his way through leadership and letting his party down. It's not just that he doesn't seem to know what he or his party believe from one day to the next, he cannot remember what he has said from one day to the next.

“After his poorly judged response to the Megrahi case, Iain Gray has once again displayed why he is not Scotland’s First Minister.”

BACKING FOR BAUSCH AND LOMB WORKERS WELCOMED

SNP MSP Angela Constance has welcomed the commitment of the Scottish Government to workers at the Bausch and Lomb plant in Livingston.

Responding to comments by the First Minister during Question Time today about Scottish jobs, and earlier comments from Lord Foulkes Ms Constance said:

“I welcome the commitment from the Scottish Government to support Scottish jobs such as the workers at Bausch and Lomb as well as the work that was put in prior to the company’s announcement last week.

“I joined John Swinney at Bausch and Lomb on Monday at meetings with the company, and with the local authority and Chamber of Commerce to discuss how we can all ensure future employment for workers at the plant.

“There is a real determination among all those involved in the Livingston economy to support those employees now facing unemployment, to explore all alternatives and to use the coming months to ensure there is a viable future for them in Livingston.”

Responding to earlier comments from Lord Foulkes Ms Constance said:

“Now he has met John Swinney I hope Lord Foulkes will moderate his earlier comments about the situation in Livingston.

“Bausch and Lomb have already said to me they will repay any public money they received in the past. As West Lothian Chamber of Commerce have made clear if some politicians had paid more attention to West Lothian in the past we may not have lost our EU status.

“We would be able to continue to invest money in attracting businesses in the same way Ireland still can.”

SNP MSPs COMMENT ON DIAGEO ANNOUNCEMENT

DIAGEO DECISION WILL DEVASTATE KILMARNOCK

DISAPPOINTMENT OVER PORT DUNDAS DECISION

SNP MSPs Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock & Loudoun) and Bob Doris (Glasgow) have commented on the announcement made by Diageo today that they will press ahead with cutting up to 900 jobs at its Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock and Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.

Kilmarnock SNP MSP Willie Coffey said Diageo’s decision to go ahead with the closure of Johnnie Walker plant, with the loss of 700 jobs in the town, will devastate Kilmarnock.

Mr Coffey condemned the decision which ends a 200 year link between Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock, the town where it was founded.

He welcomed reassurances from John Swinney that the taskforce will be reconvened to discuss a response to the closure and the economic future for Kilmarnock.

Mr Coffey said:

“This is a devastating blow for an intensely loyal workforce in Kilmarnock.

"Kilmarnock is an integral part of Johnnie Walker Whisky, without its Kilmarnock roots there is no Johnnie Walker.

"When Diageo are making billions of pounds of profits it simply beggars belief that they would shut down plants and sacrifice workers.

“Diageo are ignoring the pleas of tens of thousands of people and customers who do not want Johnnie Walker to walk away from Kilmarnock.

“To reject completely out of hand the proposals developed by Scottish Enterprise, East Ayrshire and all parties casts doubt on Diageo’s willingness to listen in the first place.

“It has been clear throughout the last few months that they had no real intention of listening to any alternative plan.

“Diageo have behaved shamefully throughout this process.

“If they are now to walk away from Killie, Diageo owe it to the town and the workers to contribute to the regeneration of the area and the creation of new jobs.

“I welcome John Swinney’s commitment to Kilmarnock, the Scottish Government has stood by the workers throughout and that commitment has not gone unnoticed.

“No one wants to face a future in Kilmarnock without Johnnie Walker – but we must now work together ensure that future is as bright as possible.”

Glasgow MSP Bob Doris also expressed his disappointment at Diageo’s decision to close the Port Dundas distillery.

The closure could mean the loss of 200 jobs in the city and comes despite a cross party campaign to preserve the jobs and intense efforts by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise to present an alternative plan for Diageo.

Mr Doris said:

“With profits of £2.5 billion last year it will be difficult for workers to understand why Diageo are closing plants and losing jobs.

“Workers at Port Dundas have shown real commitment to Diageo and there will be deep disappointment that Diageo have reached this devastating decision.

“The efforts of the campaign, the trade unions and the Diageo taskforce to put forward an alternative proposal which had cross party support have shown the Government’s clear commitment to Glasgow’s jobs.

“We must now move quickly to plan for those redundancies and to ensure alternative employment and support is put in place straight away.”

LIVINGSTON MSP COMMENTS ON BAUSCH & LOMB JOB LOSSES

Bausch and Lomb, contact lens manufacturers and major employer in the Livingston area have today announced the loss of 500 jobs. It is anticipated that the Livingston site will close in 18 months although a 90 day consultation period on the American company's intentions will commence.

Commenting after the announcement today Livingston MSP Angela Constance said:

"I am deeply saddened by the announcement today by Bausch and Lomb that they will shed 500 jobs. This is a blow for the local economy and the 500 strong workforce who are highly committed, skilled and productive.

"Bausch and Lomb have a long history with Livingston and will now enter a consultation period and do not intend to close the site for 18 months. As a matter of urgency I will be speaking to the Chief Executive of Bausch and Lomb today.

"It has already been indicated by the company that they will consider any proposals put forward by the Scottish Government during the consultation period. I will meet with company representatives, visit the site to speak with staff and make representations to both the Scottish Government and West Lothian Council.

"I want to make sure that everything possible that can be done will be done for the workforce.

"As closure is not imminent I want to ensure that all options other than closure have been fully explored and to establish what opportunities exist to mitigate this colossal job loss".

TWO BILLION REASONS NOT TO WALK OUT ON KILLIE

Kilmarnock & Loudoun MSP Willie Coffey today said there were two billion reasons for Diageo not to walk out on Kilmarnock after the company announced annual profits this morning.

Mr Coffey, whose constituency includes the closure threatened Johnnie Walker plant said;
“Diageo’s profit announcement today of over Two Thousand Million pounds is now a defining moment in the campaign to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock.

“When the company is announcing such massive profits, it really doesn’t wash that they have any justification for closing the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock, destroying Walkers' historic links with the town.

“ Today's announcement should be great news for the company, its shareholders and its staff. But instead, it’s another PR disaster for the company due to its plans to withdraw from Kilmarnock and put 700 workers on the dole. An incredible situation.

“This announcement means that there is no credible argument left to justify their proposals.
“I want the company to go from strength to strength but the workers in Kilmarnock and Hurlford and in Glasgow deserve to share in that successful future. They have contributed to it for years.

“Johnnie Walker is a global icon and maintaining the brand and it’s link to Kilmarnock gives it a heritage that Diageo could use to build sales, not slash jobs.

“Let’s make no mistake, Diageo is a very profitable and successful company and all of its plants in Scotland should be looking forward to a secure future. Profits like those announced today should make that more rather than less certain.

“Along with colleagues in the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and East Ayrshire Council, I will continue to press the case for the retention of Kilmarnock as the spiritual home of Johnnie Walker.

“I am hopeful that we can still persuade the company to work with us to secure that successful future.

DIAGEO PLAN "GOOD FOR KILMARNOCK AND GOOD FOR GLASGOW"

SUPPORT FOR PORT DUNDAS WELCOMED - KILMARNOCK MSP PRAISES CO-OPERATIVE EFFORTS

SNP MSPS Bob Doris and Willie Coffey have given further reaction to the Diageo taskforce's proposal to save jobs across Scotland.

The inclusion of Port Dundas distillery in the alternative business proposal has been welcomed by Glasgow MSP Bob Doris who chaired a meeting of trade unions, Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow council to ensure a future for Port Dundas was included in the proposals.

SNP MSP for Kilmarnock Willie Coffey has today praised the efforts of all involved in producing the plan.The proposals will now be put to Diageo.

Mr Doris said;

"I am pleased that the proposal agreed by Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Government and both local authorities includes plans to retain production at Port Dundas.

"The Finance Secretary has been clear from the start that this was about securing as many Diageo jobs in Scotland as possible and the support he has shown for Port Dundas is a real boost to this campaign."

Willie Coffey, the Kilmarnock MSP added;

"The next few weeks will be crucial in this fight and it is essential that across the country and across parties we retain the united front that has demonstrated so clearly to Diageo that the public are opposed to this plan.

"In particular the support of the work force across Diageo has been tremendous.

"Along side the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, East Ayrshire Council have worked hard and all have played a blinder in producing a plan that can keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock - if Diageo will accept this proposal.

"This plan is good for Kilmarnock and Glasgow, good for Diageo and will be good for the whole of Scotland."