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| Tata steel crisis: Sajid Javid tells workers there's time to reach a deal - live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.06pm BST | |
| 17:06 | |
| 5.05pm BST | |
| 17:05 | |
| Steel worker: It's a kick in the guts | |
| According to the Press Association, Sajid Javid was met with “a handful of boos” as he left the meeting to meet staff, and was handed a Save Our Steel badge. | |
| PA adds: | |
| Around 800 workers had waited patiently in the cold for over an hour and a half for Mr Javid to depart. | |
| Many had come in on their days off or hours ahead of a long night shift so they could show the minister and the UK Government the strength of feeling and worry amongst the workforce. | |
| One hot mill worker, Christopher Walters, 48, said staff felt like they’d been “kicked in the guts”. | |
| We knew that things were looking bad about six to eight months ago so it’s a pity that all these pledges of support from the Government and Parliament were not made then. | |
| “We have all come out in force today to show the strength of feeling about it.” | |
| 4.51pm BST | |
| 16:51 | |
| Here’s the moment the business secretary exited Port Talbot after meeting workers outside the site: | |
| Sajid Javid has now departed the steelworks in Port Talbot, with workers shouting Save Our Steel as he left. pic.twitter.com/xux4d31eGa | |
| 4.45pm BST | |
| 16:45 | |
| Javid: There will be interested buyers | |
| Q: “Are there any potential buyers” asks another steel worker, in a hard hat and holding a banner. | |
| I can’t name people who are expressing interest, for commercial reasons, Sajid Javid replies. | |
| Q: So there are people interested? | |
| There most certainly will be people. But the process is just beginning. And the unions will be fully involved, Javid says. | |
| And then he heads into his limo, and out of the site, as a chant of “Save our Steel” breaks out. | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.01pm BST | |
| 4.39pm BST | |
| 16:39 | |
| Javid: Steel is absolutely vital | |
| Q: Have we got an industry, another steelworker asks. | |
| The industry is absolutely vital to the future of the UK industrial sector, Javid tells the crowd of Tata UK staff at Port Talbot. | |
| Absolutely vital, he repeats. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.49pm BST | |
| 4.37pm BST | |
| 16:37 | |
| Sajid Javid continues: | |
| We will work with Tata, with the unions where we have a “fantastic relationship”, and with the Welsh government to make sure we secure the future of this site. | |
| 4.35pm BST | |
| 16:35 | |
| 4.33pm BST | 4.33pm BST |
| 16:33 | 16:33 |
| Javid: There's time to get a deal | Javid: There's time to get a deal |
| Sajid Javid is meeting with the crowd workers outside the Port Talbot plant right now. | Sajid Javid is meeting with the crowd workers outside the Port Talbot plant right now. |
| The business secretary starts by telling them that the government will work with all parties to get a deal, insisting that “we’re on your side”. | The business secretary starts by telling them that the government will work with all parties to get a deal, insisting that “we’re on your side”. |
| Q: So you’re not going to let us go to the wall, asks one steel worker. | Q: So you’re not going to let us go to the wall, asks one steel worker. |
| Welsh secretary Alan Cairns replies that “We’re going to do everything we can”. | Welsh secretary Alan Cairns replies that “We’re going to do everything we can”. |
| Q: Is there time, asks a second worker? | Q: Is there time, asks a second worker? |
| I think the time is there, Javid replies. Meetings today have been constructive -- as have meetings with Tata management in India. | I think the time is there, Javid replies. Meetings today have been constructive -- as have meetings with Tata management in India. |
| They have shown in the past that they are responsible, when they have sold assets, says Javid: | They have shown in the past that they are responsible, when they have sold assets, says Javid: |
| I take confidence from that, and so should you. | I take confidence from that, and so should you. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.34pm BST | at 4.34pm BST |
| 4.25pm BST | 4.25pm BST |
| 16:25 | 16:25 |
| Javid speaks at Port Talbot | Javid speaks at Port Talbot |
| Sky are now running an interview with the business secretary from Port Talbot. | Sky are now running an interview with the business secretary from Port Talbot. |
| Sajid Javid begins by saying the government has been “engaged with Tata for actually weeks on this particular issue”. | Sajid Javid begins by saying the government has been “engaged with Tata for actually weeks on this particular issue”. |
| He says: | He says: |
| I was actually here a month ago, and I’m glad to be back here today to speak with Tata, with union representatives, with some of the workers, to get an update on the latest developments. | I was actually here a month ago, and I’m glad to be back here today to speak with Tata, with union representatives, with some of the workers, to get an update on the latest developments. |
| While there might be a surprise out there publicly, we’ve worked with Tata for a long time on this. We’re working really hard to save this plant, and make sure we can find a new buyer to give it a long-term future. | While there might be a surprise out there publicly, we’ve worked with Tata for a long time on this. We’re working really hard to save this plant, and make sure we can find a new buyer to give it a long-term future. |
| Q: But didn’t Tata tell you what they were going to do - and if they did tell you, why didn’t you realise what a devastating impact this would be? | Q: But didn’t Tata tell you what they were going to do - and if they did tell you, why didn’t you realise what a devastating impact this would be? |
| We’ve discussed a lot with Tata, Javid replies, but we need to keep it commercially sensitive. | We’ve discussed a lot with Tata, Javid replies, but we need to keep it commercially sensitive. |
| Q: But how did you fail to realise the impact? | Q: But how did you fail to realise the impact? |
| We understand it’s very, very difficult news, especially for the local community, Javid insists. | We understand it’s very, very difficult news, especially for the local community, Javid insists. |
| Javid then admits that he was caught out by Tata’s decision to sell the plants quickly. | Javid then admits that he was caught out by Tata’s decision to sell the plants quickly. |
| I got concerned about [that], and that’s why I rushed back here. Talk about three or four weeks isn’t what I had in mind. | I got concerned about [that], and that’s why I rushed back here. Talk about three or four weeks isn’t what I had in mind. |
| I’m pleased to say there is an understand that this is actually a much longer process - that’s what’s needed to find a long-term buyer. | I’m pleased to say there is an understand that this is actually a much longer process - that’s what’s needed to find a long-term buyer. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.29pm BST | at 4.29pm BST |
| 4.14pm BST | 4.14pm BST |
| 16:14 | 16:14 |
| Some unedited footage of Sajid Javid’s meeting with workers has just arrived: | Some unedited footage of Sajid Javid’s meeting with workers has just arrived: |
| 4.13pm BST | 4.13pm BST |
| 16:13 | 16:13 |
| Workers in the car park at Port Talbot are holding ‘Save our Steel’ signs, and telling reporters that they want to hear concrete action from the government. | Workers in the car park at Port Talbot are holding ‘Save our Steel’ signs, and telling reporters that they want to hear concrete action from the government. |
| Promises, and claims that ministers are “doing all we can” won’t be enough. | Promises, and claims that ministers are “doing all we can” won’t be enough. |
| 3.55pm BST | 3.55pm BST |
| 15:55 | 15:55 |
| The waiting might be over, reports my colleague Graham Ruddick who is with the workers at Port Talbot. | The waiting might be over, reports my colleague Graham Ruddick who is with the workers at Port Talbot. |
| Expecting to hear from Sajid Javid in Port Talbot at any moment. There is an expectant crowd outside pic.twitter.com/cKz1ze2V5x | Expecting to hear from Sajid Javid in Port Talbot at any moment. There is an expectant crowd outside pic.twitter.com/cKz1ze2V5x |
| 3.52pm BST | 3.52pm BST |
| 15:52 | 15:52 |
| Steel workers at Port Talbot have now been waiting almost two hours for Sajid Jabid to emerge from his meetings. | Steel workers at Port Talbot have now been waiting almost two hours for Sajid Jabid to emerge from his meetings. |
| Steelworkers waiting behind the ministerial Jaguar at Port Talbot with business secretary Sajid Javid still inside pic.twitter.com/tHOXdUH5VD | Steelworkers waiting behind the ministerial Jaguar at Port Talbot with business secretary Sajid Javid still inside pic.twitter.com/tHOXdUH5VD |
| Via Huw Silk of Wales Online. | Via Huw Silk of Wales Online. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.05pm BST | at 4.05pm BST |
| 3.47pm BST | 3.47pm BST |
| 15:47 | 15:47 |
| The Wall Street Journal has now confirmed that Tata is in talks with German engineering conglomerate ThyssenKrupp about merging their steel operations. | The Wall Street Journal has now confirmed that Tata is in talks with German engineering conglomerate ThyssenKrupp about merging their steel operations. |
| And depressingly for UK workers, this deal is now possible because Tata is giving up on the UK. | And depressingly for UK workers, this deal is now possible because Tata is giving up on the UK. |
| The WSJ says: | The WSJ says: |
| Credit Suisse analysts....say Tata’s planned exit from the U.K. was a prerequisite to any potential deal with Thyssenkrupp. | Credit Suisse analysts....say Tata’s planned exit from the U.K. was a prerequisite to any potential deal with Thyssenkrupp. |
| “This scenario in turn could lead to the creation of a 20 million tons high quality steel producer in Europe, and the eventual exit of steel for Thyssenkrupp, with arguably a strong synergy story,” they said. | “This scenario in turn could lead to the creation of a 20 million tons high quality steel producer in Europe, and the eventual exit of steel for Thyssenkrupp, with arguably a strong synergy story,” they said. |
| Maybe the most symbolic UK industrial decline story ever. Welsh steel made unprofitable by China,owners sell up, invest in Germany instead. | Maybe the most symbolic UK industrial decline story ever. Welsh steel made unprofitable by China,owners sell up, invest in Germany instead. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.00pm BST | at 4.00pm BST |
| 3.27pm BST | 3.27pm BST |
| 15:27 | 15:27 |
| We had expected to hear from Sajid Javid around 2.45pm today, so the business secretary’s meeting are running 45 minutes late. | We had expected to hear from Sajid Javid around 2.45pm today, so the business secretary’s meeting are running 45 minutes late. |
| Savid Javid was expected on air outside Port Talbot at 2.45 or so. Has his trip to South Wales not gone down so well? | Savid Javid was expected on air outside Port Talbot at 2.45 or so. Has his trip to South Wales not gone down so well? |
| 3.15pm BST | 3.15pm BST |
| 15:15 | 15:15 |
| GMB: Tories want to get into in bed with communist China | GMB: Tories want to get into in bed with communist China |
| Tim Roache, general secretary of the GMB union, has thrown the (red?) book at David Cameron for blocking higher tariffs to prevent Chinese steel imports. | Tim Roache, general secretary of the GMB union, has thrown the (red?) book at David Cameron for blocking higher tariffs to prevent Chinese steel imports. |
| “Never in our wildest dreams did we consider that the Tory Party would allow the Chinese Communist party to dictate the fate of vital industries like steel and energy in the UK..... | “Never in our wildest dreams did we consider that the Tory Party would allow the Chinese Communist party to dictate the fate of vital industries like steel and energy in the UK..... |
| “There was a time when the Tories sought to root out the reds under the bed. Now they want to get into bed with them.” | “There was a time when the Tories sought to root out the reds under the bed. Now they want to get into bed with them.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.15pm BST | at 3.15pm BST |
| 2.58pm BST | 2.58pm BST |
| 14:58 | 14:58 |
| Quite a crowd now: | Quite a crowd now: |
| This is the demo awaiting Sajid Javid after his talks with Tata and unions in Port Talbot: pic.twitter.com/W1n19CmhST | This is the demo awaiting Sajid Javid after his talks with Tata and unions in Port Talbot: pic.twitter.com/W1n19CmhST |
| 2.45pm BST | 2.45pm BST |
| 14:45 | 14:45 |
| Workers are continuing to gather outside the building in Port Talbot where business secretary Sajid Javid is meeting with managers: | Workers are continuing to gather outside the building in Port Talbot where business secretary Sajid Javid is meeting with managers: |
| Video: Staff at the Port Talbot #TataSteel plant waiting outside of SoS Sajid Javid's meeting with bosses pic.twitter.com/pFQ4V7P2Oi | Video: Staff at the Port Talbot #TataSteel plant waiting outside of SoS Sajid Javid's meeting with bosses pic.twitter.com/pFQ4V7P2Oi |