Simclar staff march over sacking

The protesters marched through Irvine

About 300 people have taken part in a march and rally in Irvine against the electronics company Simclar.

The protesters included MPs and MSPs and many of the 420 employees who lost their jobs three weeks ago at factories in Irvine and Kilwinning in Ayrshire.

Staff want the founder and chairman of Simclar, Sam Russell, and his fellow executives to be held to account.

Mr Russell attacked "ill-informed politicians" for making wild claims about the closure of the factories.

'Hardworking and efficient'

He denied claims of asset stripping and acting improperly and said nothing would have given him more satisfaction than retaining the Ayrshire jobs.

Willie Paterson, the Scottish secretary of the Community union, said Mr Russell had dumped his responsibility for the worker onto the taxpayer.

He said: "Sam Russell has tried to say that this is nothing to do with him and it is the fault of globalisation, yet he has refused to meet with the workforce and the union because he is afraid that his excuses won't wash.

"The Simclar workforce was loyal, hardworking and efficient - they knew that they were competing with developing countries and did all they could to ensure that the company was successful."