The decision, announced by Chancellor George Osborne on Thursday evening during his Mansion House speech, was decried as “the clearest evidence possible” of double standards by the coalition government.
Unite General Secretary, Len McCluskey said that it was “the clearest evidence possible of the double standards operated by this economically disreputable coalition.”
“Last night, the Chancellor, George Osborne pledged to pump in at least £100bn into the banking system to boost lending – which bankers should be doing anyway as that’s their job – in an attempt to build a financial firewall against the situation in Greece,” said McCluskey.
“Yet, a similar request from Unite for state aid in the short term to tide over Coryton oil refinery until a viable buyer is found to take over the oil refinery is dismissed by ministers out-of-hand”, he added.
The union described the move as a “kick in the teeth” for workers, at least 850 of whom will lose their jobs as a result of the refinery’s closure.
Under Osborne’s ‘funding for lending’ scheme British banks – facing higher funding costs and under pressure to put more capital aside – will be offered vital funding at low interest rates.
It means that banks will be offered cheap loans by the Bank of England, provided they lend the money onto businesses and consumers.
“Osborne will cite that propping up the banks is in the national interest – but so is ensuring the security of oil supplies without which the lights would go off very quickly across the Britain”, said McCluskey.
To date, the banks have sat on every penny this country has given them, but we know that short-term help for Coryton would keep thousands of people off the dole queue, in work and a community alive.”
MOL/SS/HE
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