MPs to be recalled to Parliament to discuss future of British Steel
MPs will be recalled to the House of Commons to discuss the future of British Steel on Saturday.
The PA news agency understands the rare weekend sitting will take place to debate the uncertain future of British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant.
Jingye, the Chinese owner of the business, plans to close the blast furnaces and switch to a greener form of production.
Ministers have said all options are on the table for its future, including nationalisation, over concerns its closure would leave the UK without any domestic virgin steel makers.
It is the first recall of Parliament on a Saturday since 1982.
Criticised
Earlier this week the UK Government was heavily criticised by Plaid Cymru following reports that it was considering nationalising British Steel to prevent its collapse – a move not extended to the TATA plant in Port Talbot where 2,500 jobs were lost.
In December, Plaid’s Business and Trade spokesperson, Llinos Medi asked the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, why the Government had estimated the cost of nationalising British Steel to safeguard Scunthorpe’s future while dismissing calls to nationalise Port Talbot.
Ms Stevens replied: “The Government have no plans to nationalise British Steel.”
A month later, Wales’ First Minister Eluned Morgan mocked Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, for suggesting the Port Talbot plant could be nationalised to prevent the loss of jobs, describing it as a “pipe dream”.
Dismissed
Ms Medi MP said: “When Plaid Cymru called for the nationalisation of Port Talbot to safeguard Welsh steel, Labour dismissed it without hesitation.
“Now, as the UK Government considers nationalising British Steel in Scunthorpe, Labour’s quiet acceptance of a Tory plan that cost 2,500 jobs in Port Talbot is nothing short of a betrayal.
“The people of Port Talbot will rightly ask why their jobs and community were not worth fighting for.”
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Perhaps the First Minister should ask Starmer some serious questions as to why Port Talbot is not having the same consideration?
Just listened to that hypocrite Keir Starmer ignore to answer a journalist’s question when he asked why the same offer was not on the table for Port Talbot. Breathtaking arrogance. UK Labour has an England First, Wales Last agenda.
ALL MP’S representing Wales should be at Westminster tomorrow ,no ifs ,no buts and especially those representing the Valleys . Deselection should be the price to pay for those deciding not to attend!!
Shameful. Not just that Starmer let down PortTalbot but that he chooses to recall parliament. A cop out because he’s terrified of making contentious decisions especially if they have a political impact like Nationalisation. By recalling parliament he is looking for support from other parties so that he can say that it wasn’t my decision but parliament involving the whole House. But it’s only in emergencies that parliament is recalled – such as war. Any other PM would decide on this matter k according to the merits of the case quickly with his Cabinet ministers. And in many serious matters,… Read more »
Why wasn’t Port Talbot steel works given the same priority ?
We are not valued as a member of the UK.
….. As I have said:
GET UK OUT OF WALES AT THE NEXT SENEDD ELECTIONS.
VOTE PLAID CYMRU. GET INDEPENDENCE.
BETTER WITH EUROPE.
This is a technicality, but the reason for recalling parliament is to pass emergency legislation so that the site can be taken over and continue. You obviously can’t pass legislation if parliament is not sitting. It’s not to cop out decision making. Clearly labour have the votes, and then some – they don’t need the support from parties
This isn’t a new phenomenon, for hundreds of years we in Cymru have (historically by law) been treated as second class citizens. Enough is enough!