Kate Forbes said she had “no interest in a spat” with the UK Government following a row over two different taskforces set up to support more than 300 Mossmorran workers at risk of losing their jobs.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister repeated previous comments that “any reports of conflict” did a “disservice to the workers” at the ethylene plant.

There had been confusion about the two governments’ strategies for the employees after they invited each other to different meetings.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander had invited Ms Forbes to the Fife Council-led roundtable on Monday, which she did not attend, and said that was Labour’s preferred route.

Ivan McKee, Scottish public finance minister, attended for the Scottish Government.

Instead, Ms Forbes attended Mossmorran on Tuesday

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