AN SNP MP pressed Boris Johnson to engage with the owners of the McVities factory in Glasgow’s East End which is facing closure - threatening around 470 local jobs.
At PMQs today, David Linden urged the Prime Minister to intervene on what he described as an "economic armageddon" on an already “fragile local economy”.
Responding to Linden's question, Johnson said the Tollcross factory was a "proud part of the Scottish economy" and that workers and their families will be "will be very concerned about what’s happening".
He thanked Linden for raising the issue and said that talks are currently ongoing with Pladis, the Turkish company that owns McVities.
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Linden (below), the MP for Glasgow East, said he is committed to taking all possible steps to save the factory, especially after Pladis posted record-breaking profits this year.
He said: “The decision to close such an historic and vital workplace in Glasgow’s East End is an economic Armageddon to what is already a fragile local economy.
“Throughout the pandemic, Pladis Global’s employees worked at this factory as key workers whilst much of the country safely worked from home.
“Each and every day, they put themselves at risk to generate record-breaking profits for the company. Therefore, the decision to launch the consultation to close the factory is a real kick in the teeth to every one of them.
“Since 2017, I have been in regular contact with Pladis surrounding the challenges they face as a business, so I was delighted to hear that they seemed to have finally turned a corner with record-breaking profits this year. Therefore, this decision is shameful and must be reconsidered.
“The campaign to save this factory has only just begun, and I am urging the Prime Minister to support this initiative.”
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