TOMORROW’S Scottish Budget must deliver support for hundreds of laid-off Mossmorran workers, the Scottish Greens have said.

In November global energy giant ExxonMobil announced plans to close the Fife ethylene plant in February.

SNP First Minister John Swinney committed to introducing a jobs fund to support workers but has yet to publish further details of the plan 18 months after promising a “just transition plan” for them.

The Greens have been pushing for an equivalent to the Grangemouth transition funding following the closure of Scotland’s only oil refinery, some 20 miles from the Mossmorran site.

Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer said: “Hundreds of workers and their families have just spent Christmas knowing they will lose their jobs in a matter of weeks. 

“And despite lots of warm words, the Scottish government has made no real efforts to support them.

“These workers have been let down by Exxon but they have also been let down by a government that promised a transition plan 18 months ago and then made absolutely no efforts to actually come up with one.”

Last month the Unite union said that Mossmorran workers have had only “words and soundbites” from both Holyrood and Westminster when they need action.

Industrial officer Bob MacGregor said that a recently announced £120 million British government investment in an ethylene plant at Grangemouth showed more support could be offered to them.

Mr Greer said: “Greens and trade unions pushed hard for that plan because we all knew this closure was inevitable. Ministers cannot claim to have been taken by surprise.

“This week’s Scottish government Budget is an opportunity to make up for those wasted months and deliver on the promises made to Mossmorran workers and their communities. There isn’t time to waste.”

His party has also called for colleges to be better funded in the Budget to help tackle the climate crisis. 

Yesterday Holyrood’s Finance Secretary Shona Robison said that the Budget would focus “resolutely” on the public priorities of boosting the NHS and helping tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

She said that her critical pre-election draft tax and spending plans for the coming year will be in “stark contrast” to Westminster policies she claimed are “holding Scotland back.”

Labour has said it will not block the minority SNP government’s Budget.