Exclusive:Reform UK accused of allowing 'British refineries be undercut by imports'

Labour MP Euan Stainbank said Reform “owe refinery workers and answer” after senior MP Robert Jenrick suggested halting the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The CBAM would mean certain imports are taxed at the same levels as those made domestically.

A cross-party group of MPs, including Mr Stainbank and Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin, have called for refined products to be included in the CBAM.

But Mr Jenrick, Reform UK’s Treasury spokesperson, included halting the CBAM as one of his “pro-growth” measures he would implement if he were Chancellor.

Falkirk MP Mr Stainbank said doing so would give foreign producers “an unfair advantage” and that the Grangemouth refinery may still be open if the mechanism had already been brought in.

Mr Stainbank said: “Had Robert Jenrick and his Tory colleagues acted in government to stop British refineries being undercut by imports facing lower carbon costs, Grangemouth might still be refining today.

“Now Reform wants to pause the very policy its own MP, Sarah Pochin, joined me in urging the Chancellor to extend to refining earlier this year. They demanded action in April and oppose it in October.

“Which is it? Do they back British refining, or are they happy to let overseas producers undercut it? Jenrick owes refinery workers an answer.

“I have pressed the Treasury to make fuel imports face equivalent carbon costs to those paid by our refineries. Reform’s announcement would leave that unfair advantage in place. They talk about backing British industry, then oppose a policy that would help defend it”.

Scotland’s only oil refinery, Grangemouth, ceased crude oil processing last year after a century of operating on the Forth.

Some 400 workers lost their jobs after it was converted to an imports terminal.

Reform UK was approached for comment.