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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2016/mar/30/uk-government-steel-industry-tata-port-talbot-business-live
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| Steel crisis: Jeremy Corbyn calls on government to 'intervene now' - live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.36pm BST | |
| 17:36 | |
| The word from Downing Street is that the government is “completely focused” on working with Tata, the trade unions and other interested parties, to deliver a “sustainable future” for the plant at Port Talbot, and the wider industry. | |
| 5.27pm BST | |
| 17:27 | |
| Here’s a clip of Jeremy Corbyn speaking in Port Talbot: | |
| Jeremy Corbyn trying to rally steel workers in port talbot "save our steel" pic.twitter.com/6svQXtcenH | |
| 5.16pm BST | |
| 17:16 | |
| Corbyn: Government must intervene now to save steel industry | |
| Jeremy Corbyn is meeting with steel workers in a social club in Port Talbot right now. | |
| He also addressed them, warning that the future of the industry is at stake. | |
| The Labour leader says: | |
| If we don’t intervene to protect this steel works, and the other steel works, we will have no steel industry in Britain. | |
| We will see a continual running down of our manufacturing capacity. | |
| We will no longer be able to call ourselves a proper manufacturing economy without a steel industry that goes with it. | |
| Our call to the government is ‘intervene now’ to protect these plants. | |
| (earlier typo corrected) | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.37pm BST | |
| 5.08pm BST | 5.08pm BST |
| 17:08 | 17:08 |
| Corbyn arrives in Port Talbot on mission to save steel industry | Corbyn arrives in Port Talbot on mission to save steel industry |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has just spoken to the steel workers in Port Talbot. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has just spoken to the steel workers in Port Talbot. |
| Corbyn says he is in Wales to “try and save our steel industry”, declaring: | Corbyn says he is in Wales to “try and save our steel industry”, declaring: |
| In saving our steel industry we’re saving the future, for thousands of families not only in Port Talbot but all over the country. | In saving our steel industry we’re saving the future, for thousands of families not only in Port Talbot but all over the country. |
| The steel industry is vital for the country, he continues, as its products are used in so many other industries, from food and drink to the railways. | The steel industry is vital for the country, he continues, as its products are used in so many other industries, from food and drink to the railways. |
| And Corbyn also challenges the government to give steel more support - and a pledge to use British steel for infrastructure projects. | And Corbyn also challenges the government to give steel more support - and a pledge to use British steel for infrastructure projects. |
| He says: | He says: |
| We need a government that is prepared to intervene and say there should be strategic produrement of steel from steelworks in Britain for the railways, the bridges and the buildings and all the other things we are constructing in this country. | We need a government that is prepared to intervene and say there should be strategic produrement of steel from steelworks in Britain for the railways, the bridges and the buildings and all the other things we are constructing in this country. |
| More in a moment... | More in a moment... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.10pm BST | at 5.10pm BST |
| 4.57pm BST | 4.57pm BST |
| 16:57 | 16:57 |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has now arrived in Port Talbot to meet with steel workers. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has now arrived in Port Talbot to meet with steel workers. |
| 4.53pm BST | 4.53pm BST |
| 16:53 | 16:53 |
| Petition to recall parliament hits 10k, and rising.... | Petition to recall parliament hits 10k, and rising.... |
| That was quick! Jeremy Corbyn’s petition for parliament to be recalled to debate the steel crisis has reached 10,000 signatures after just two hours. | That was quick! Jeremy Corbyn’s petition for parliament to be recalled to debate the steel crisis has reached 10,000 signatures after just two hours. |
| This means the government has to officially respond: | This means the government has to officially respond: |
| Unofficially, Downing Street has already been telling reporters that there are no plans to bring MPs back from their Easter break. | Unofficially, Downing Street has already been telling reporters that there are no plans to bring MPs back from their Easter break. |
| The petition is here: | The petition is here: |
| Call on David Cameron to act to protect our steel industry & recall Parliament | Call on David Cameron to act to protect our steel industry & recall Parliament |
| 4.48pm BST | 4.48pm BST |
| 16:48 | 16:48 |
| David Cameron is planning to speak by phone to Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones later this afternoon, government insiders say. | David Cameron is planning to speak by phone to Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones later this afternoon, government insiders say. |
| He’s then expected to hold the crisis meeting in London tomorrow morning. | He’s then expected to hold the crisis meeting in London tomorrow morning. |
| 4.47pm BST | 4.47pm BST |
| 16:47 | 16:47 |
| A couple more photos from Sajid Javid’s (flying) visit to Australia: | A couple more photos from Sajid Javid’s (flying) visit to Australia: |
| Dinner jacketed Business Secretary tells his audience in Sydney "it's a pleasure to be in Australia" pic.twitter.com/VpGD8Tn2jB | Dinner jacketed Business Secretary tells his audience in Sydney "it's a pleasure to be in Australia" pic.twitter.com/VpGD8Tn2jB |
| On @ITVEveningNews watch @sajidjavid attend black-tie dinner in Sydney (before he's told to return) #PortTalbot pic.twitter.com/HrN1QGRKOg | On @ITVEveningNews watch @sajidjavid attend black-tie dinner in Sydney (before he's told to return) #PortTalbot pic.twitter.com/HrN1QGRKOg |
| 4.36pm BST | 4.36pm BST |
| 16:36 | 16:36 |
| Is this the moment that the business secretary decided to cut his Australia trip short?.... | Is this the moment that the business secretary decided to cut his Australia trip short?.... |
| Sajid Javid at Sydney dinner (New South Wales). Moments later he's ordered back to deal with jobs (in South Wales) pic.twitter.com/euFh69HPxl | Sajid Javid at Sydney dinner (New South Wales). Moments later he's ordered back to deal with jobs (in South Wales) pic.twitter.com/euFh69HPxl |
| 4.25pm BST | 4.25pm BST |
| 16:25 | 16:25 |
| Steel crisis: What the readers say | Steel crisis: What the readers say |
| Martin Belam | Martin Belam |
| Earlier today we asked Guardian readers to give their views on the steel crisis (here). | Earlier today we asked Guardian readers to give their views on the steel crisis (here). |
| We asked three different questions - here’s our pick of the responses... | We asked three different questions - here’s our pick of the responses... |
| Q1: How do you think the British and Welsh governments should react to Tata Steel’s intentions? | Q1: How do you think the British and Welsh governments should react to Tata Steel’s intentions? |
| The government should intervene and purchase Tata steel - at a good negotiated price. This is not about globalization, it is about China dumping its own product. This is also a strategic sector. Allowing the Chinese to take control of the market through irregular means would place the UK in a disadvantaged position. This effort should also signal the UK’s decision to act through its own policy and also signal intent to get EU to act in defence of the sector and open-market policies: not to allow these types of market distorting behaviours. Until China and other countries act fairly, the UK should protect its industry. | The government should intervene and purchase Tata steel - at a good negotiated price. This is not about globalization, it is about China dumping its own product. This is also a strategic sector. Allowing the Chinese to take control of the market through irregular means would place the UK in a disadvantaged position. This effort should also signal the UK’s decision to act through its own policy and also signal intent to get EU to act in defence of the sector and open-market policies: not to allow these types of market distorting behaviours. Until China and other countries act fairly, the UK should protect its industry. |
| Name withheld, England | Name withheld, England |
| Given that there is no way that we can compete with the global cheapness of the steel imports, I feel we should let the market take its course and let the plant go. The money we would have spent trying to save a dying industry we can reinvest in training and creating new jobs in an area where the UK is now leading the way, finance. | Given that there is no way that we can compete with the global cheapness of the steel imports, I feel we should let the market take its course and let the plant go. The money we would have spent trying to save a dying industry we can reinvest in training and creating new jobs in an area where the UK is now leading the way, finance. |
| Keith Penfold, Haywards Heath | Keith Penfold, Haywards Heath |
| It’s all too easy to shut these plants down and put the work force out on the street. It is a financial decision for the moment but steel prices will rise and when it does the UK will have a gun to its head because foreign suppliers will know that we have not got the plants to switch back on. All of this will cost the country dear in the long term. I am just an ordinary retired working bloke but even I can see the devastating effects this will have on our great country. From a lifetime Conservative voter come on Mr Cameron, these are very special circumstances. | It’s all too easy to shut these plants down and put the work force out on the street. It is a financial decision for the moment but steel prices will rise and when it does the UK will have a gun to its head because foreign suppliers will know that we have not got the plants to switch back on. All of this will cost the country dear in the long term. I am just an ordinary retired working bloke but even I can see the devastating effects this will have on our great country. From a lifetime Conservative voter come on Mr Cameron, these are very special circumstances. |
| Name withheld, Worcestershire | Name withheld, Worcestershire |
| Q2: What do you think the impact will be on communities near to the existing steel works? | Q2: What do you think the impact will be on communities near to the existing steel works? |
| If steelworks are allowed to close the effect on communities will be as devastating as that of the mines closing. Communities which are dependent on one industry take decades to recover during which time health, education and welfare all suffer irreversible damage. | If steelworks are allowed to close the effect on communities will be as devastating as that of the mines closing. Communities which are dependent on one industry take decades to recover during which time health, education and welfare all suffer irreversible damage. |
| Liz Taylor, Bristol | Liz Taylor, Bristol |
| Q3: Summarise in one sentence, if you can, what the steel industry means to you | Q3: Summarise in one sentence, if you can, what the steel industry means to you |
| The steel industry means nothing to me personally, but as a nation we depend on having our own steel production for so many of the things we do : we cannot afford to lose the skills and plant to enable us to be independent in steel production. | The steel industry means nothing to me personally, but as a nation we depend on having our own steel production for so many of the things we do : we cannot afford to lose the skills and plant to enable us to be independent in steel production. |
| Andy Miles, Leicestershire | Andy Miles, Leicestershire |
| Like chimney sweeps, an outdated occupation. | Like chimney sweeps, an outdated occupation. |
| Sean Kirby, East Yorks | Sean Kirby, East Yorks |
| 4.16pm BST | 4.16pm BST |
| 16:16 | 16:16 |
| Britain’s steel industry was once the envy of the world. But in recent decades, it has experienced economic problems, industrial disputes, privatisation, mergers, and relentless competition from abroad. | Britain’s steel industry was once the envy of the world. But in recent decades, it has experienced economic problems, industrial disputes, privatisation, mergers, and relentless competition from abroad. |
| Here’s a two-minute history: | Here’s a two-minute history: |
| 4.05pm BST | 4.05pm BST |
| 16:05 | 16:05 |
| Javid: Nationalisation isn't the solution | Javid: Nationalisation isn't the solution |
| Business secretary Sajid Javid has spoken to reporters in Australia, before leaping on a flight back to the UK. | Business secretary Sajid Javid has spoken to reporters in Australia, before leaping on a flight back to the UK. |
| He said steel was “absolutely vital for the country”, but wasn’t convinced that nationalisation was the solution. | He said steel was “absolutely vital for the country”, but wasn’t convinced that nationalisation was the solution. |
| Here’s the full statement: | Here’s the full statement: |
| “I’m deeply concerned about the situation. I think it’s absolutely clear that the UK steel industry is absolutely vital for the country and we will look at all viable options to keep steel making continuing in Port Talbot. | “I’m deeply concerned about the situation. I think it’s absolutely clear that the UK steel industry is absolutely vital for the country and we will look at all viable options to keep steel making continuing in Port Talbot. |
| We are also very much alive to the human cost and we want to make sure no worker is left behind so where workers are affected that we are doing everything we possibly can to help them and their families.” | We are also very much alive to the human cost and we want to make sure no worker is left behind so where workers are affected that we are doing everything we possibly can to help them and their families.” |
| “At this stage, given the announcement from Tata has just come out, it’s important I think we talk to them properly and understand the exact situation and we look at all viable option. | “At this stage, given the announcement from Tata has just come out, it’s important I think we talk to them properly and understand the exact situation and we look at all viable option. |
| I don’t think nationalisation is going to be the solution because I think everyone would want a long-term viable solution. | I don’t think nationalisation is going to be the solution because I think everyone would want a long-term viable solution. |
| “And if you look around Europe and elsewhere I think nationalisation is rarely the answer, particularly if you take into account the big challenges the industry faces.” | “And if you look around Europe and elsewhere I think nationalisation is rarely the answer, particularly if you take into account the big challenges the industry faces.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.22pm BST | at 4.22pm BST |