Graham has called on the Government to act before Christmas to secure the future of Saltend Chemicals Park, following talks with Industry Minister Blair McDougall in Parliament.
The Beverley and Holderness MP met the Minister on Wednesday 4 November to press for urgent action to get INEOS’s three mothballed chemical plants producing again and protect the future of one of East Yorkshire’s most important industrial centres.
INEOS mothballed the plants in September, retaining 245 skilled employees.
Graham has been campaigning to protect jobs at Saltend since October 2025, when he first raised concerns with Ministers about the pressures facing INEOS and the threat to British chemical manufacturing.
Since September’s announcement, he has stepped up his campaign, joining local leaders from across the political divide in appealing to the Prime Minister and pressing Ministers for action.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Graham emphasised that Saltend’s future extends far beyond INEOS. Businesses across the chemicals park depend on one another, meaning that prolonged disruption could have consequences for the wider industrial cluster.
The Minister recognised the importance of Saltend and confirmed that Government officials are working closely with INEOS ahead of the opening of a new fund to support Britain’s chemicals industry.
Graham welcomed the constructive discussion but warned that the situation must be resolved this year, rather than being held up by months of Government bureaucracy.
Graham said:
“Saltend is one of East Yorkshire’s great industrial centres. It provides skilled, well-paid jobs and supports families and businesses across our area.
“We need to get these plants producing again, and we need to recognise that the future of the wider chemicals park is closely tied to what happens at INEOS.
“I’ve been fighting for Saltend for over a year, raising the pressures facing the industry with Ministers and working with local leaders to make sure East Yorkshire’s voice is heard in Westminster.
“I was encouraged by my meeting with Blair McDougall. He understands the importance of Saltend, and I hope he will be the man to cut through the bureaucracy and get this sorted.
“But time matters. We need a resolution before Christmas, not months of delay while decisions work their way through Whitehall.
“Reindustrialising the North starts with keeping the good industries we already have.
“I’ll continue working with Blair and the Government to secure the future of Saltend and the skilled jobs that depend on it.”
