Really tough news for our community today.

SABIC have confirmed that they will not be restarting the Olefins 6 cracker at Wilton. This will be a huge blow for the workers, their families, and for our local industrial base.

I’ve been in regular contact with SABIC’s senior team throughout, and I know how hard the workforce and leadership have worked to try and get the plant back into operation. They gave it everything, and I want to thank them for that.

SABIC have told me directly that this decision is down to global market dynamics – massive oversupply in the chemicals market means only a few plants around the world with unique advantages can stay open. This is not a failure of policy, or something any government could have reversed.

But that doesn’t make it any less painful. This is an important site with a proud history, and it’s devastating that this part of it will now be lost.

I am reassured that SABIC remain fully committed to their other operations at Wilton, and I will keep working closely with them to protect those jobs and ensure the rest of the site remains strong and secure for the future.

The Labour government is already backing energy-intensive industries with real support – including cutting sky-high energy prices – and SABIC themselves have welcomed this as helpful for their ongoing operations. That support will continue.

My full focus now is on supporting the workforce, limiting job losses, and making sure that Teesside’s world-class industrial skills have a strong future. We’re not just going to watch this happen – we will fight for good jobs, for investment, and for a strong, secure future for Teesside industry.

Anna Turley MP