1 second of 1 minute, 2 seconds Volume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled
Play/Pause SPACE
Increase Volume ↑
Decrease Volume ↓
Seek Forward →
Seek Backward ←
Captions On/Off c
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f
Mute/Unmute m
Decrease Caption Size -
Increase Caption Size + or =
Seek % 0-9
Next Up
Cameron on Port Talbot
01:31
facebook twitter Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/Y4tqVv77 Copied
Auto360p 1080p 720p 540p 360p 270p 180p
Live
00:10
00:52
01:02
More Videos
01:31
Cameron on Port Talbot
00:44
The Traitors: Newly-banished faithful falls off chair finding out who traitors are
00:59
Post Office victim, 91, trembles as she pleads for dead husband to have seen justice
01:04
BBC Question Time audience member grills Emily Thornberry over Rwanda row
00:31
The Pogue's Shane MacGowan's last performance before death aged 65
01:15
Trump joins wife Melania at her mother's funeral
Close
？
Close
MP's anger at Tata Steel Port Talbot closure
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
View from Westminster email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Tata’s decision to axe 3,000 jobs at its plant in South Wales will leave the UK reliant on foreign steel imports for years to come, as an MP warned the move raised “serious questions” about national security.
Stephen Kinnock, the shadow minister for immigration and Labour MP for Aberavon - home of the Port Talbot steelworks - said the move leaves the UK the only G20 country unable to make “its own steel from scratch”.
Earlier Tata confirmed plans to close blast furnaces at the plant, with the loss of more than 3,000 jobs. About 2,800 jobs will go over the next 18 months, with a further 300 to be lost after. The Indian-owned firm said the plans were aimed at “reversing more than a decade of losses”.
The move also sparked outrage among several unions.
A statement by the GMB and Community said: “It is an absolute disgrace that Tata Steel, and the UK government, appear intent on pursuing the cheapest instead of the best plan for our industry, our steelworkers and our country.”
Recommended What is next for Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan? Rwanda is an absurd hill for a prime minister to die on Rishi Sunak set for titanic battle with Lords over Rwanda bill
Key Points Tata Steel confirms decision to axe 3,000 jobs ‘Dogs in the street’ know Rwanda plan won’t work, senior Tory says Sunak braces for battle to get legislation through Lords Rwanda Bill passes Commons
Show latest update 17 hours ago Sunak ‘determined’ to pass Rwanda Bill ahead of Lords showdown
Rishi Sunak has said he is “determined” to get his Rwanda legislation through Parliament, as ministers prepare for stiff resistance in the House of Lords to the flagship asylum policy.
Many peers have already expressed deep unease about the plan, with ministers braced for a battle with the Upper House over the Bill.
Dominic McGrath reports:
Sunak ‘determined’ to pass Rwanda Bill ahead of Lords showdown Many peers have already expressed deep unease about the plan, with ministers braced for a battle with the Upper House over the Bill.
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 15:45
Promoted stories
CommonSearches
17 hours ago Editing of witness statements used to prosecute subpostmasters is ‘shameful and appalling’, Fujitsu boss says
Watch:
Fujitsu boss: Editing of witness statements to prosecute subpostmasters is ‘shameful’ Fujitsu boss Paul Patterson has described the editing of witness statements that were used to prosecute subpostmasters to defend the Horizon IT system as “shameful”. During Friday’s hearing (19 January), Mr Patterson said he was “surprised” that detail of bugs and errors was not included in the witness statements given by Fujitsu staff to the Post Office, and acknowledged he’d seen “some evidence” of editing of witness statements by others. Counsel to the inquiry Jason Beer KC then asked Mr Patterson how he would describe the editing out of bugs or “data integrity problems” in witness statements. Mr Patterson replied: “Shameful, appalling.”
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 15:30
18 hours ago Britain will be forced to rely on steel from India and China after Tata closures in Port Talbot
The closure of two blast furnaces at Britain’s biggest steelworks will lead to thousands of job losses and leave the UK reliant on foreign steel imports for years to come.
In a fresh blow to Rishi Sunak, as the UK teeters on the brink of recession, Tata Steel said it is cutting 2,800 jobs at its plant in Port Talbot, south Wales. It came as the steel giant confirmed it is closing both blast furnaces at the site.
Archie Mitchell and Alex Ross report:
Britain will be forced to rely on steel from India and China after Tata closures The closures come despite Tata being promised up to ￡500m by the UK government in a bid to keep the plant open and produce steel in a greener way
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 15:15
18 hours ago Watch: Sunak laughs off mother pleading with him to fix NHS waiting lists for her daughter
Rishi Sunak has been captured laughing as he was challenged in the street by a woman who expressed her anger over dire NHS waiting lists.
Cameras caught the awkward exchange as the PM was confronted by voters in Winchester town centre about the state of the health service.
Adam Forrest reports:
Rishi Sunak laughs as shopper challenges him over NHS waits in awkward exchange ‘My daughter spent seven hours waiting’: PM confronted by woman in Winchester town centre
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 14:56
18 hours ago Tata statement - in full
In a statement, Tata said: “Tata Steel today announced it will commence statutory consultation as part of its plan to transform and restructure its UK business.
“This plan is intended to reverse more than a decade of losses and transition from the legacy blast furnaces to a more sustainable, green steel business.
“The transformation would secure most of Tata Steel UK’s existing product capability and maintain the country’s self-sufficiency in steelmaking, while also reducing Tata Steel UK’s CO2 emissions by five million tonnes per year and overall UK country emissions by about 1.5 per cent.”
(Getty Images)
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 14:40
19 hours ago Unite ready to defend workers and steel industry
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is ready to use everything in its armoury to defend steel workers and our steel industry.
“We have detailed research demonstrating how and why Tata should be expanding UK steel production in line with growing demand, not slashing its workforce.
“We have secured funding from a future Labour government that could do this.
“Tata’s plan to close the blast furnaces is simply industrial vandalism on a grand scale.”
Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham
(PA Wire)
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 14:20
19 hours ago Unions’ anger at Tata Steel decision to close furnaces at South Wales plant
Unions have reacted with anger after Tata Steel confirmed plans to close blast furnaces at its plant in Port Talbot, South Wales with the loss of thousands of jobs.
Tata said its plans are subject to consultation but could be expected to result in up to 2,800 potential job losses across the business out of which, around 2,500 roles could be impacted during the next 18 months.
Alan Jones reports:
Unions’ anger at Tata Steel decision to close furnaces at South Wales plant Tata says its plans could be expected to result in up to 2,800 job losses.
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 14:00
19 hours ago Job losses ‘devastating news’ - Wales Green Party
Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said: “This is devastating news for the local community and beyond.
“Wales knows only too well what happens when communities are abandoned by government and industries.
“We saw it with the coal industry and now it is happening again with the steel industry.
“Decarbonisation of industry is vital, but communities and people’s jobs must be protected.
“That means putting unions and workers at the heart of a just transition.”
(Getty Images)
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 13:40
19 hours ago Closure of blast furnaces a ‘blow for workers’ - CBI Wales
Ian Price, director of CBI Wales said: “Tata Steel’s announcement of the closure of two blast furnaces with the loss of 2,800 jobs is a blow for workers employed at the plant in Port Talbot and in the wider supply chain, which includes a number of local companies, and affects other firms throughout Wales.
“The trade unions and the Welsh and UK governments need to come together with Tata and local businesses to find a way of reskilling and retraining those affected staff and help them return to the labour market.
“The new Freeport in Milford Haven-Neath Port Talbot, and on Anglesey, offer opportunities for workers’ talents to be harnessed in support of the renewables and net zero industry and it is essential the projects are delivered rapidly to support the Welsh economy.”
Steel giant Tata is to press ahead with plans to close blast furnaces at its biggest plant, threatening at least 2,800 jobs (Ben Birchall/PA)
(PA Wire)
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 13:36
19 hours ago Horizon IT bugs known for ‘many, many years'
Fujitsu boss Paul Patterson told the inquiry bugs, errors and defects in the Horizon IT system were known about by “all parties” and have been known for “many, many years”, Zoe Grunewald reports.
When asked if Fujitsu knew about the existence of errors and defects at a “corporate level”, Mr Patterson said: “Yes. In fact all the bugs and errors have been known on one level, or not, for many, many years.
“Right from the very start of the deployment of this system there were bugs and errors and defects which were well known to all parties.”
Fujitsu director admits Horizon bugs and errors 'known for many years'
Matt Mathers 19 January 2024 13:35
Newer 1 / 8 Older
More about Rwanda Rishi Sunak Tory MPs Lee Anderson Prime Minister Conservative amendments party Jacob Rees-Mogg keir starmer
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
9Comments
1/ 1Tata closure forces UK to rely on China for steel - live
Tata closure forces UK to rely on China for steel - live
Getty Images
CCPA Notice Promoted stories
New Mazda CX50
Mazda CX50 Is A True Head Turner (You'll Double Take At The Price)New Mazda CX50| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
investing.com
Greta Thunberg's Car Shocks The World, Proof In Picturesinvesting.com| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Best Search Now
Unsold Camper Vans Are Being Sold At Low Prices (See Prices)Best Search Now | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Read More Comments
Collapse Comments
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in