Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer today offered a package of support for Grangemouth that could be worth up to £800 million, saying it was an investment in Scotland’s future.

He told the Scottish Labour party conference in Glasgow that £200m was being made available from the National Wealth Fund. Afterwards, he said that he hoped it would leverage “three times” that sum from private investors.

Every worker made redundant will get eighteen months full pay from £10m of UK government money and any business within the Grangemouth Freeport area that takes them on will get national insurance relief.

Adding that Grangemouth is not a “charity case” he described it as a “symbol of Scotland’s industrial brilliance”.

He said: “It is not a problem to be solved. It is a huge opportunity for renewal. For this generation and beyond.”

He said a £100m growth deal was already in place through a “welcome” partnership with the Scottish government. All but £20m of this came through the Falkirk Growth deal.

Sir Keir declared that oil and gas “will be part of the future in Scotland for decades to come,” but his comments on Grangemouth were a strong indication that its future as an oil refinery is over and that the site must become a centre for new energies and other technologies.

He said it could have a future in bioengineering, biofuels or hydrogen energy.

“I promise you this, it will not lack ambition on our side,” he said.

Asked by the media about his promise that GB Energy would cut household energy bills, he said that they will come down when energy prices are no longer be subject to variations [in oil and gas prices] on the international markets.

“Clean energy is a vital part of energy security, it strengthens our energy security. Gets Putin off our throat,” he said.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described the package as “ground-breaking”.

Both he and the Prime Minister were dismissive of the opinion polls which have put Labour on course to lose next year’s Scottish elections. Sir Keir insisted that Labour would defy the odds.

“I just remind myself what I thought four or five years ago when I became Labour leader. I faced many questions from many people in this room who put it to me that the Labour Party wouldn’t … [be] in a position to win an election, certainly not to win in Scotland.

“We didn’t lose our focus. We were absolutely clear what we’re trying to achieve. We got on with it.

“We changed the Labour Party, with Anas and I working very closely together, and since I’ve been in government, I focused on delivering for the people in Scotland.

“I don’t get up and start rummaging around opinion polls or look at what pollsters and punters are saying.

“I’ve been working with Anas, particularly the last few weeks. We’ve not discussed the polls.”

Sir Keir was asked if he would defend Scotch whisky during his talks with President Trump in Washington this week. He said he recognised the importance of the sector to Scotland and that Mr Trump would almost certainly mention Scotland as he is so fond of the country.

His speech made no mention of pensioners, in particular the winter fuel payment or the Waspi campaigners who staged a small demonstration outside the SEC conference hall.

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