Labour and SNP MPs pleaded with the government at Westminster yesterday for a big push to restart talks over the future of the Grangemouth plant.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey said the government was "saddened" by the shutdown of the petrochemical plant, but he offered only vague words about future prospects.

He pledged to continue working "extremely closely" with the Scottish government, including looking for potential buyers.

Mr Davey said the way forward was to get both sides round the table "so that we can get agreement on the way forward and the investment we wish to see."

He added lamely: "I'm afraid we cannot prevent the threat of job losses, but we will do absolutely everything we can to stop that threat being realised."

He also stated that "should a business case be put forward to us for investment in the petrochemical plant, we will look at it very closely."

Arch-Blairite Alistair Darling said industrial relations at Grangemouth were "like the 1970's."

Edinburgh East Labour MP Sheila Gilmore commented acidly that the "lockout and threats and ultimatums are more like the 1870's."

Prominent Unite union member Jack Dromey MP urged Mr Davey to meet with Ineos and express the strong feelings in Parliament that the company must come to the negotiating table in order to secure the future of the whole of the Grangemouth complex.

Unite parliamentary group chairman Jim Sheridan MP took a potshot at Ineos chairman Jim Ratcliffe, declaring that any future investment in the plant should not be at the cost of the workers, "many of whom pay taxes, unlike Mr Ratcliffe."