Figures show Labour’s warnings repeatedly ignored by the Government

[vc_row inner_container=”true” no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” marginless_columns=”true” bg_video=”” class=”” style=””][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/4″][gap size=”20px” id=”” class=”” style=””][text_output][/text_output][/vc_column][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”3/4″][gap size=”1px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]Labour MP’s have raised the issues facing the steel industry 203 times, securing 8 debates in Parliament since the General Election[/text_output][text_output]Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, commenting on the figures, said:

“The perfect storm threatening the future of steel industry in the UK didn’t appear out of nowhere, it’s been brewing for many months. Labour has raised the serious issues facing the steel industry time and again, yet the Tory Government have failed to take the necessary action to avert the crisis.

“As the crisis escalated, trade union representatives and the local Labour Member of Parliament were in Mumbai fighting for the future of the industry. But the Tory Government was missing in action; the Prime Minister was on holiday, the Chancellor was keeping his head down after his disastrous budget, and the Business Secretary was at a black tie dinner in Australia extolling the virtues of the free market.

“Labour has consistently called for decisive action to help the steel industry and stand up for the livelihoods and life chances of those communities who depend on it. Labour has a four point plan to secure the future of the industry and have argued that Parliament should have been recalled to hold the Tory Government to account.

“The collapse of the steel industry would mean a £4.6bn cost to government over the next ten years, 40,000 jobs lost, and devastation for steel making communities. The Government can’t afford not to act.

“The steel industry is hanging by the thinnest of threads, the time for action from the Government to save our steel is now.”[/text_output][/vc_column][/vc_row]