THE closure of the Johnnie Walker plant will rocket East Ayrshire to the top of Scotland's unemployment league. East Ayrshire Council's deputy chief executive Elizabeth Morton has warned that the loss of 700 Diageo jobs will mean £17.5million in wages will be lost to the local economy. That would instantly give East Ayrshire the worst unemployment rates in Scotland. Currently, East Ayrshire has an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent. The cuts would increase that to 6.9 per cent. The Scottish average is 3.9 per cent. Elizabeth said: "It would be a massive blow to the community on so many levels. Not only for the people who will lose their jobs, but to the local businesses who need workers to spend money in their shops."