Former PM Gordon Brown urges governments to support BiFab
Talks for the Fife yards to build new wind turbine parts have broken down
Last updated 30th Oct 2020
The Scottish and UK Governments are being told to work together “for the sake of Fife”.
Gordon Brown has issued the plea in an effort to save 400 jobs at the BiFab engineering yards in Burntisland and Methil.
A proposed £30 million deal to build eight wind turbine jackets collapsed after the Scottish Government’s decision to withdraw a financial guarantee, with Holyrood ministers blaming state aid rules.
The former Prime Minister has told Forth 1: “It is £30 million of work and we are just about to tear it up and throw it away if we don’t take action now”.
“As someone who has always believed in Fife and believed in jobs for Scotland, I am going to fight until we get an answer to this and I want to see these jobs in Fife starting next year”.
Mr Brown, who used to represent Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath at Westminster, is also raising the prospect of legal action:
“If ministers won’t change their minds, I am putting them on notice that we will consider a full judicial review of their decision. Lord Davidson QC’s own opinion is that they did not need to pull the plug.”
Responding to the former PM’s comments, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have asked the UK Government for an urgent meeting to explore what support that they may be able to provide to BiFab in recognition that they do not face the same legal restrictions as the Scottish Government.
“We will continue to do everything possible to support the business while recognising the need for us to remain in line with state aid regulations. In doing so, we remain in regular dialogue with the majority shareholder and the trade unions.”
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