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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2016/apr/01/tata-steel-crisis-uk-ringleader-china-sajid-javid-port-talbot-live
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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Tata steel crisis: Sajid Javid tells workers there's time to reach a deal - live | Tata steel crisis: Sajid Javid tells workers there's time to reach a deal - live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.37pm BST | |
| 17:37 | |
| Sajid Javid has urged Tata to push on with the process of finding a buyer for its UK steel assets. | |
| Speaking after his meetings with management, unions and workers at Port Talbot, the business secretary says Tata must produce the necessary paperwork, pronto. | |
| “I think the most immediate need is for Tata to set out its offer document with the details and to make sure that all potential buyers have all the relevant information they would need. | |
| You would naturally expect them to want that early on, as early as possible, ... so they can complete that due diligence as quickly as possible.” | |
| 5.30pm BST | |
| 17:30 | |
| The business secretary is tweeting from his limousine: | |
| Honoured to meet some of the hardest working men and women in Britain. We will do all we can to help #PortTalbot pic.twitter.com/yEdrLpPjZ8 | |
| 5.27pm BST | |
| 17:27 | |
| Here’s a video clip of Sajid Javid speaking to some of the Port Talbot steel workers: | |
| 5.22pm BST | |
| 17:22 | |
| Here’s our latest news story from Port Talbot: | |
| Related: Steel crisis: business secretary confronted by Tata workers | |
| 5.10pm BST | |
| 17:10 | |
| Javid defends Australia trip | |
| Graham Ruddick | |
| Sajid Javid also defended his decision to travel to Australia, with his daughter, as the steel crisis was escalating (reports our Graham Ruddick). | |
| Asked whether he regretted taking his daughter on the trip, he said: | |
| “Oh not at all. I think that you know, call me old-fashioned but I’m a father who likes to spend as much time as possible with my children and if that means spending time with them, squeezing it in at work or on a business trip then that’s what I would do. | |
| Responding to criticism that it made the trip look like a “jolly”, he said: | |
| “Well I certainly wouldn’t call going to Australia a couple of days and packing it with meetings a jolly.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 5.11pm BST | |
| 5.06pm BST | 5.06pm BST |
| 17:06 | 17:06 |
| 5.05pm BST | 5.05pm BST |
| 17:05 | 17:05 |
| Steel worker: It's a kick in the guts | 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. | 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: | PA adds: |
| Around 800 workers had waited patiently in the cold for over an hour and a half for Mr Javid to depart. | 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. | 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”. | 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 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.” | “We have all come out in force today to show the strength of feeling about it.” |
| Updated | |
| at 5.11pm BST | |
| 4.51pm BST | 4.51pm BST |
| 16:51 | 16:51 |
| Here’s the moment the business secretary exited Port Talbot after meeting workers outside the site: | 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 | 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 | 4.45pm BST |
| 16:45 | 16:45 |
| Javid: There will be interested buyers | Javid: There will be interested buyers |
| Q: “Are there any potential buyers” asks another steel worker, in a hard hat and holding a banner. | 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. | I can’t name people who are expressing interest, for commercial reasons, Sajid Javid replies. |
| Q: So there are people interested? | 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. | 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. | And then he heads into his limo, and out of the site, as a chant of “Save our Steel” breaks out. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.01pm BST | at 5.01pm BST |
| 4.39pm BST | 4.39pm BST |
| 16:39 | 16:39 |
| Javid: Steel is absolutely vital | Javid: Steel is absolutely vital |
| Q: Have we got an industry, another steelworker asks. | 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. | 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. | Absolutely vital, he repeats. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.49pm BST | at 4.49pm BST |
| 4.37pm BST | 4.37pm BST |
| 16:37 | 16:37 |
| Sajid Javid continues: | 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. | 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 | 4.35pm BST |
| 16:35 | 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 |