AROUND 115 livelihoods have been plunged into jeopardy after bus firm Alexander Dennis announced plans to close its Falkirk site today.

In 2025, the firm threatened to move all production to a single site in Yorkshire, a move staved off by a Scottish government furlough scheme.

Now, a year on, the firm’s managing director, Paul Davies, offered thanks for that support as he announced plans to close its Falkirk plant and retool its Larbert site to focus on chassis manufacturing.

Despite the move putting up to 115 jobs at risk, he argued: “This represents the best possible outcome for our business, employees, customers and supply chain partners in the current climate.”

But Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is an economic shock which the company has chosen to inflict on the workforce and the wider community when it has other viable options. This doesn’t need to happen.”

Noting Transport Scotland’s recent announcement of £45 million funding to renew buses, including orders for Alexander Dennis, First Minister John Swinney said: “We’ve just allocated an award of 100 new buses to take forward the work of the company.

“We’ll work with the company to secure continuity of employment as far as we can do so in working to secure the future of the plant.”

Labour MP Euan Stainbank was, however, unimpressed.

“Last week, the majority of a £45 million Scottish government funding pot for Zero-Emission Buses was sent to Chinese manufacturers,” he said.

“This is an utterly inexplicable and unacceptable decision-making by the SNP Scottish government and Transport Scotland.”

MP for neighbouring Alloa and Grangemouth Brian Leishman added: “Compare and contrast the SNP’s actions with Labour’s Andy Burnham from Greater Manchester, who operates under the same legal framework and placed significantly more orders with British manufacturers.

“A clear choice has been made by the SNP.

“That is taxpayer money going abroad instead of supporting domestic manufacturing.

“Shame on the SNP for their betrayal of Scottish workers.”

Echoing the sentiment, GMB union senior organiser Robert Deavy said: “How many Scottish jobs must be lost and factories closed before our governments understand the risks of sending contracts around the world?”

“We are losing crucial skills and supply chains and that, in such an uncertain world, is economic madness and a senseless risk.”