AIRLINE giant British Airways was today accused of forcing its Glasgow-based cabin crew to accept redundancy.

The claim was made by Labour transport spokesman Des McNulty who said the company's offer of voluntary redundancy or relocating to London was "Hobson's choice".

Almost 140 crew are affected and Mr McNulty has tabled a parliamentary motion expressing "grave concern" about their fate and the implications for services between London and Scottish airports.

He is also urging people to sign up to an online petition - www.saveBAscotland.co.uk - launched by the staff yesterday.

Reader Poll In the wake of a new campaign being launched, should BA reconsider plans to axe its Glasgow cabin crew base? Yes 74.1% No 23.5% Don't know 2.4%

Mr McNulty said claims by BA chief executive Willie Walsh that the airline was committed to Scotland "hardly seems consistent with shutting down the cabin crew base at Glasgow Airport".

The MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie also said the move would make it very difficult to reinstate the recently cut "red eye" flight to Heathrow or reverse its decision to bring forward the departure time of the last flight from London.

He added: "These cuts mean BA won't be able to staff any flight from Scotland until they have a crew up from London.

"Mr Walsh's claims about the importance of Scottish business are not consistent with closing the cabin crew base."

He also said the BA boss was being "disingenuous" in claiming there would be no compulsory redundancies.

Mr McNulty said: "Many of these staff are long-serving and have family and other ties which bind them to Scotland, so it's very difficult for the vast majority to relocate to London.

"And with a freeze in the housing market there are all kinds of practical impediments which make it even more difficult for people at this time.

"The reality is that people are being made forcibly redundant. To say it's a voluntary redundancy process is really giving them Hobson's choice.

"It's not good for the staff involved and it's not good for Scotland."

Jim Sheridan, the Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, is also backing the workers.

He has tabled a motion at Westminster, supported by another 21 backbenchers, denouncing the decision and urging BA to reconsider.

Mr Sheridan said the airline should rebrand itself "London Airways".

First Minister Alex Salmond met Mr Walsh earlier this month and also urged him to think again.

The decision had been made just two months into a three-month productivity trial and Mr Salmond said it was unfair to axe "loyal, hard-working" staff while the efficiency drive was under way.

He added: "How can BA call itself British when it is centralised in the south east of England?"

As well as dropping their "red-eye" from Glasgow and advancing the departure time of the last flight from London, BA has also cut 500 flights between London and Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen in its winter schedule.

A spokesman for Unite, which represents the cabin crew, said: "The company will make a saving by closing the base but it will be minimal and customer service will go down.

"BA is gradually pulling out of Scotland. It has no interest in domestic flights."

A BA spokesman said: "We announced earlier this month that, following a detailed review, we propose to reorganise the BA mainline cabin crew operation at Glasgow.

"Under the proposals, flights between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Heathrow, which are currently operated by cabin crew based at Glasgow, will be operated by Heathrow-based Eurofleet cabin crew.

"The 135 Glasgow-based cabin crew will be given the option of transferring to Heathrow or they may choose to accept voluntary severance.

"BA conducted trials since the beginning of August 2008 that involved changes to the trips and agreements aimed at improving the productivity and cost performance of the Glasgow base.

"Although the productivity improved during the first two months of the trial, the costs remained at the same level."

The BA spokesman added: "The proposal to bring the flights between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Heathrow within the Heathrow operation is essential if the airline's shorthaul operation is to remain competitive.

"The proposal is subject to a 90-day consultation with cabin crew trade unions.

"That consultation process is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further."