MSPs voted last night on whether to condemn the Scottish government’s failure to support green energy and jobs.

Debates in Holyrood yesterday focused on the future of Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab), which operates plants in Fife and the Isle of Lewis, as well as small businesses across Scotland that have been let down during the coronavirus crisis. 

A motion put forward by Scottish Labour’s Alex Rowley states that “Scotland has the potential to lead Europe’s green energy revolution over the coming decades,”  claiming green jobs will be “central to creating new employment and training opportunities across Scotland.”

But the government’s decision to withdraw a financial guarantee, preventing work on a £30 million contract to build turbine jackets for a North Sea wind farm from starting in January, was condemned. The statement calls on the government to “act now” to save the yards and the workers who depend on them. 

Another debate was led by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, whose motion called on the government to “urgently outline” how it will allocate finances to support and save businesses and jobs.

Votes on the motions took place after the Star went to press.

In the Commons, PM Boris Johnson was urged to provide a “meaningful” package of support for workers, with SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford raising concerns that people had taken their own lives after having been excluded from such measures.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Blackford told Mr Johnson that he should “look again” at the support provided to ensure that no-one is left behind ahead of Christmas.

The concerns over business support come after significant job losses were announced in the retail sector across Britain. 

Tens of thousands of staff face an uncertain future after Arcadia, owned by Sir Phillip Green, entered administration, with the announcement having a knock-on effect on high street giant Debenhams. 

And about 1,500 more retail jobs are at risk after women’s fashion chain Bonmarche tumbled into administration for the second time yesterday in just over a year.

In an urgent question on the retail crisis in the Commons, Labour’s Ed Miliband questioned what support would be provided to workers, saying there was an “emergency on our high street.” 

He said: “The government has a massive responsibility to preserve the businesses and jobs we need on the other side of this crisis. 

“They are still not acting on a scale that meets the economic emergency our country faces.”