Job cuts boss attacks McConnell

Workers at Simclar (Ayrshire) found doors locked on Monday

The founder of a firm which shut two Ayrshire factories and cut 420 jobs has attacked political critics, including First Minister Jack McConnell.

Simclar chairman Sam Russell said "ill-informed politicians with an eye on the elections" had made wild claims.

Mr McConnell said Simclar had acted improperly while local MSP Irene Oldfather told Holyrood there were "suggestions of asset stripping".

Mr Russell said he was unable to retain his Ayrshire workforce.

"Nothing would have given me greater satisfaction than to have retained these Ayrshire jobs," he said.

Simclar closed factories in Irvine and Kilwinning on Monday and said it had been unable to remain competitive.

It grieves me to hear politicians making political capital out of what is a serious and ongoing issue Sam Russell Simclar chairman and founder

The Dunfermline-based firm blamed pressure from low cost economies and falling orders.

During First Minister's Questions, local MSP Irene Oldfather expressed fears of minimum redundancy payments "amid suggestions of asset stripping".

She asked for a meeting with Mr McConnell to meet the "substantial challenge which we will face in North Ayrshire to absorb these job losses".

Mr McConnell agreed and added: "It does appear to be the case this company has not acted properly in carrying out its responsibilities.

"I think that is very unfortunate."

'Vitriolic personal attacks'

Earlier, Central Ayrshire Labour MP Brian Donohoe claimed the closure had been planned for some time and said the local workforce had been treated appallingly.

Mr Donohoe told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It is quite obvious, from some time ago, this was all planned and kept very quiet."

In a strongly-worded statement, Mr Russell, the Simclar Group chairman and founder, rejected the allegations.

The First Minister said it appeared Simclar had acted improperly

"It is extremely unhelpful for ill-informed politicians, who have no clear concept of the global market in which we have to operate, to be making unsubstantiated claims and accusations," he said.

"It grieves me to hear politicians making political capital out of what is a serious and ongoing issue for the manufacturing sector in Scotland.

"When you hear senior Scottish politicians - no doubt with an eye on impending elections - making the wild claims which they have done over the past two days, you wonder whether they really understand the scale of the global challenge which the manufacturing sector faces."

Mr Russell added: "Normally I would not make comments such as these but having been on the receiving end of such vitriolic personal attacks I feel that I have no option but to respond by saying that these politicians say and do nothing to encourage me that they want to retain a manufacturing presence in Scotland."

Mr Russell said he was sure the company's handling of their "very serious financial situation" would be vindicated during the administration process.