NICOLA Sturgeon has insisted she will leave “no stone unturned” as ministers desperately scramble to save a Dundee factory threatened with closure.
Almost 850 workers face losing their jobs after bosses announced the city's Michelin plant will shut within two years, blaming a slump in the market and cheap imports.
Ms Sturgeon said the news was “devastating” for employees and their families – and called on the UK Government to pump an extra £50 million into the region.
It came as Prime Minister Theresa May faced calls from Dundee’s four SNP parliamentarians to commit to working with the Scottish Government to support the workforce.
Speaking during First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon said: "This news this week has clearly been devastating for the 845 workers at Michelin and for their families and the wider community in Dundee. My thoughts are with all of them at this time.
"Let me be very clear, as [Finance Secretary] Derek Mackay was in this chamber earlier in the week, that we will do everything we can to find a sustainable future for this plant.
"Our absolute priority is to pursue options for the site to continue with commercial production and we will leave no stone unturned in working with Michelin, with Dundee council and with other partners to secure a positive future for the plant, for its workers and for the wider community."
She urged Mrs May’s Government to commit an additional £50m to the Tay Cities Deal, aimed at bringing long-term investment to the area.
Holyrood ministers have pledged £200 million to the scheme, with the UK Government providing £150m.
However similar deals in Edinburgh and Glasgow – which are helping to fund major infrastructure projects – received equal funding from both governments.
Michelin bosses have given Mr Mackay until the end of the month to come up with a plan to save the site.
They decided to shut the factory almost a month ago, with news of the closure leaking on Monday – sparking anger from staff.
The French firm is the largest industrial employer in Dundee, with 845 employees. Its site, opened in 1972, is due to cease operations by mid-2020.
Questioned on redundancy payments by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, Ms Sturgeon said: "If redundancies are inevitable here, then we will want to see workers getting the best possible deal and Michelin, as I understand it, have already given commitments that that will be the case.
“But we don't want, at this stage, to assume that that is an inevitable outcome."
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