Ownership in Britain is broken
October 25, 2013 1:11 PM Subscribe
After a trade dispute, Grangemouth plant will remain open. Just another case of a greedy union almost driving a company out of business? Perhaps not. Robin McAlpine argues that this case underlines the broken nature of British industry and its relationship with the unions, as well as the media's ability to report on stories outside of London
On the issue of whether Westminster is engaged with Scottish issues, Scotland can answer that question for itself next September.
posted by Thing at 1:35 PM on October 25, 2013
posted by Thing at 1:35 PM on October 25, 2013
On Sunday when our media was absolutely dominated by a dispute that threatened to cut off 80 per cent of Scotland's fuel (and large proportions of the fuel supply to the North of England too), not a mention was made on the main BBC news bulletins.
McAlpine's account seems tendentious in many respects, but that particular point is just false. I live in London and it has been a major news story day by day.
posted by Segundus at 1:58 PM on October 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
McAlpine's account seems tendentious in many respects, but that particular point is just false. I live in London and it has been a major news story day by day.
posted by Segundus at 1:58 PM on October 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
I so hope the SNP's coming defeat on the independence referendum does not damage their long term standing as a political party. Always good news when an old oil refinery closes down though.
posted by jeffburdges at 2:19 PM on October 25, 2013
posted by jeffburdges at 2:19 PM on October 25, 2013
McAlpine's account seems tendentious in many respects, but that particular point is just false. I live in London and it has been a major news story day by day.
Yes, it has in the past few days, but really only after Ineos chucked their toys out. It's been a massive story in Scotland for much longer, and couldn't even get ahead of minor LibDem nonsense in England.
posted by bonaldi at 6:39 PM on October 25, 2013
Yes, it has in the past few days, but really only after Ineos chucked their toys out. It's been a massive story in Scotland for much longer, and couldn't even get ahead of minor LibDem nonsense in England.
posted by bonaldi at 6:39 PM on October 25, 2013
I also noted that Channel 4 News lead on "Archbishop Welby Speaks About Prince George" on the day that everything imploded. Which felt a) particularly myopic and b) embarrassing for a news programme supposedly more leftwing than Auntie Beeb.
posted by kariebookish at 12:31 AM on October 26, 2013
posted by kariebookish at 12:31 AM on October 26, 2013
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In Scotland, the 210,000 bpd Grangemouth refinery was shut down earlier this week in a labour dispute that could lead to the plant's full closure.
A total of 16 European refineries, or 1.7 million bpd of refining capacity has been mothballed since 2008, according to the International Energy Agency.
Europe's nameplate capacity stood at around 16 million bpd in 2012, according to the IEA.
Around 330,000 bpd of European refining capacity - or six Mantua refineries - need to be shut down every year by 2020 in order to meet declining demand and rising competitive pressures, Wech said.
source
posted by JPD at 1:29 PM on October 25, 2013 [1 favorite]