DRINKS firm Diageo is to seriously consider plans that will safeguard jobs at its Johnnie Walker bottling plant at Kilmarnock and its Port Dundas grain distillery, the First Minister has said.
DRINKS firm Diageo is to seriously consider plans that will safeguard jobs at its Johnnie Walker bottling plant at Kilmarnock and its Port Dundas grain distillery, the First Minister has said.
After a "very constructive" meeting in London with Diageo's chief executive officer, Paul Walsh, Alex Salmond said he was more positive that the 900 jobs at the two sites could be saved.
The First Minister stopped short of offering a financial or infrastructure incentive to the firm, but he did get an agreement that Diageo's staff would help Scottish Enterprise build up its alternative business case for next month.
"We can't guarantee success, we're in an extraordinarily difficult position, but we can now guarantee that this will be a serious, credible document and it will be properly considered," said Mr Salmond.
He added: "It was a useful step forward in the campaign."
Also at the meeting were David Gosnell, Diageo's managing director of global supply who drew up the closure plans, and Jack Perry, the Scottish Enterprise supremo charged with coming up with an alternative.
"It won't be going through the motions, it will be a proper consideration of the alternatives," stressed Mr Salmond.
In a statement, Diageo confirmed its commitment to give the case against closure a full hearing "We took the opportunity to reassure the First Minister and Mr Perry that the company will listen to alternative proposals, which sustain its operations and investment in Scotch and Scotland for the long term," said a spokesman.
Mr Salmond, who branded Diageo's current proposals "socially unacceptable", did not rule out using public finance to get the firm to stay on site.
At a press conferenc after the London meeting, Mr Salmond emphasised the 200-year-history of the Port Dundas site in Glasgow which is seen as being vulnerable to the bargaining process.
