SCOTLAND is at a “crisis point” in manufacturing after bosses at a McVitie’s biscuit factory in Glasgow confirmed they will close the historic plant.

The McVitie’s factory in the Tollcross area of the city supports almost 500 jobs, but owner Pladis has blamed “excess capacity” at other British sites as a reason for the planned closure.

The factory, which has been in constant production for almost 100 years, has been backed by the public, with more than 80,000 people signing a petition opposing the closure. 

An action group, made up of unions, the Scottish government, Glasgow City Council and others put together an alternative, which would have seen a new factory built on a nearby site.

But the proposal has been dismissed by bosses, who confirmed today that the closure will go ahead late next year. 

Pladis UK and Ireland managing director David Murray claimed that the decision was taken to protect brands, acknowledging the news would be “difficult” but that workers would be offered support throughout a consultation.

The decision has caused outrage, with union representatives claiming it is now clear Pladis had no intention of engaging in good faith.

GMB Scotland senior organiser Hazel Nolan said: “That’s not good enough. If Pladis are walking away from this community after nearly a century of production, after 18 months of constant manufacturing during this Covid-19 pandemic, the very least the workforce deserve is honest answers. 

“That honesty is also needed for members of the Action Group because if a firm like Pladis no longer sees Scotland as a viable place to do business, then everyone needs to understand why and what must be done to prevent further manufacturing decline.”

Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said that the announcement will come as a body blow to workers, calling for the Scottish government to intervene — up to and including a significant package of state aid. 

“I couldn’t be more disappointed,” he said, “there are nearly 500 jobs at stake here in a community that simply cannot afford to lose them. 

“We are at a crisis point in Scottish manufacturing. A proactive approach must now take priority — simply firefighting a constant barrage of redundancy notices from multinational companies is evidently an ineffective strategy and one that has been allowed to continue for far too long.”