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Steel crisis: David Cameron urged to take personal charge of talks Steel crisis: David Cameron urged to take personal charge of talks
(about 3 hours later)
Union leaders are calling on David Cameron to take personal charge of talks to prevent the closure of Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant.Union leaders are calling on David Cameron to take personal charge of talks to prevent the closure of Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant.
They have accused Business Secretary Sajid Javid of "taking his eye off the ball" and say the PM needs "to get a grip" of the negotiations.They have accused Business Secretary Sajid Javid of "taking his eye off the ball" and say the PM needs "to get a grip" of the negotiations.
It comes ahead of emergency talks in London between unions and representatives of at risk Tata plants. It comes amid emergency talks in London between unions and representatives of at risk Tata plants.
The government has said it will offer financial support to help find a buyer.The government has said it will offer financial support to help find a buyer.
Tycoon Sanjeev Gupta, founder of commodities firm Liberty House, has had initial talks over a potential purchase of the south Wales plant.Tycoon Sanjeev Gupta, founder of commodities firm Liberty House, has had initial talks over a potential purchase of the south Wales plant.
Liberty House said the talks had been "positive" and ministers were "keen to find solutions". Mr Gupta will return to London on Monday evening to continue the negotiations.Liberty House said the talks had been "positive" and ministers were "keen to find solutions". Mr Gupta will return to London on Monday evening to continue the negotiations.
Mr Javid is to meet Tata's chief finance officer later amid reports Investment firm Greybull has been in talks with the company regarding a buy-out of its Scunthorpe operation. Mr Javid is to meet Tata's chief finance officer while investment firm Greybull has been in talks with the company regarding a buy-out of its Scunthorpe operation.
UK steel crisisUK steel crisis
Who might buy Tata in Port Talbot?
Welsh Assembly to grill first minister over TataWelsh Assembly to grill first minister over Tata
What's going wrong with Britain's steel industry?What's going wrong with Britain's steel industry?
Tata Steel UK: What are the options?Tata Steel UK: What are the options?
Is China to blame for steel woes?Is China to blame for steel woes?
Marc and Nathaniel Meyohas, the brothers behind the firm, are considering a £400m investment in the struggling Lincolnshire plant, potentially saving about 9,000 jobs. Mr Javid is also due to meet union representatives on Tuesday.
However, it is understood German group ThyssenKrupp have signalled they are not interested in buying Tata Steel's UK businesses. Speaking outside the union talks in London, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey told the BBC Tata had expressed a desire to complete the sale "speedily", adding: "That's not really good enough if they want to be a responsible company."
Meanwhile, Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones faces questions from assembly members over the steel crisis later in a hastily reconvened meeting. Mr Jones is expected to hold talks with Mr Cameron in Downing Street on Tuesday. He said Tata was "under some pressure from ourselves to do the right thing, not to just rush away in a matter of weeks" and called on the government to "put a protective arm around the industry".
Tata Steel announced last week it was selling its loss-making UK businesses and would close its plant at Port Talbot unless a buyer is found.Tata Steel announced last week it was selling its loss-making UK businesses and would close its plant at Port Talbot unless a buyer is found.
The company directly employs 15,000 workers in the UK and supports thousands of others, across plants in Port Talbot, Rotherham, Corby and Shotton.The company directly employs 15,000 workers in the UK and supports thousands of others, across plants in Port Talbot, Rotherham, Corby and Shotton.
Pensions liabilitiesPensions liabilities
It is understood Liberty House would be unlikely to buy Port Talbot's blast furnace and is primarily interested in the company's rolling mills and other steel processing plants, said BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith.It is understood Liberty House would be unlikely to buy Port Talbot's blast furnace and is primarily interested in the company's rolling mills and other steel processing plants, said BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith.
A source involved with the talks said the company and other potential buyers would regard taking on Tata's pension liabilities as "too big an ask".A source involved with the talks said the company and other potential buyers would regard taking on Tata's pension liabilities as "too big an ask".
There are around 140,000 steel workers eligible for pensions under the Tata scheme - also including the old British Steel pension scheme.There are around 140,000 steel workers eligible for pensions under the Tata scheme - also including the old British Steel pension scheme.
Mr Javid, under pressure over his handling of the crisis, signalled on Sunday that ministers were working on plans to take on some of the pension liabilities and to reduce energy costs to make a purchase more attractive to investors.Mr Javid, under pressure over his handling of the crisis, signalled on Sunday that ministers were working on plans to take on some of the pension liabilities and to reduce energy costs to make a purchase more attractive to investors.
But Norman Smith said there was concern that a government move to cover workers' pensions could flout EU state aid rules.But Norman Smith said there was concern that a government move to cover workers' pensions could flout EU state aid rules.
'Deeply troubling''Deeply troubling'
Shop stewards from steelworks across the country are meeting in London shortly to discuss the steel industry crisis as efforts continue to save thousands of jobs at risk. Unions say they wrote to Mr Cameron last week seeking a meeting and have not received a reply - but Downing Street said no correspondence had been received.
The unions say they wrote to Mr Cameron last week seeking a meeting and have not received a reply - but Downing Street said no correspondence had been received. Roy Rickhuss, leader of the Community union, said: "By now, no-one underestimates the scale of the challenge we face. We have an entire industry to save and not a lot of time to save it.
Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke said: "We want the prime minister to step in… last week was an absolute disaster. It's important the prime minister now meets with the unions to look at all the options."
He told BBC News the unions wanted to "know what's going on", saying there were "more questions than answers" over the future of Tata's UK business.
Roy Rickhuss, leader of the Community union, added: "By now, no-one underestimates the scale of the challenge we face. We have an entire industry to save and not a lot of time to save it.
"We must also ensure that we hold Tata to a commitment to be a responsible seller and honour its moral and social duties to UK steel communities.""We must also ensure that we hold Tata to a commitment to be a responsible seller and honour its moral and social duties to UK steel communities."
Ahead of a visit to Rotherham steelworks, Business Minister Anna Soubry said the government wanted to find a buyer who would purchase Tata's UK operations "as a whole". Speaking on a visit to Tata's plant in Rotherham, Business Minister Anna Soubry said the government "will talk to anybody who has a genuine reputation and is genuinely interested" in the company's UK interests.
"We need to make sure we get the right deal, obviously that deal is for Tata to decide because they're a private company, but that we do everything we can to make it happen," she told BBC Radio Sheffield. She said the government would do everything possible to secure the future of the industry in the UK.
Business ratesBusiness rates
Tata Steel has said there is "no fixed timeline" for the sale process but stressed that urgency is needed to avoid "a long period of uncertainty" for employees and customers.Tata Steel has said there is "no fixed timeline" for the sale process but stressed that urgency is needed to avoid "a long period of uncertainty" for employees and customers.
Labour says the government should be prepared to take the Port Talbot plant - which Tata says is losing £1m a day - into public ownership to safeguard its future until a buyer can be found.Labour says the government should be prepared to take the Port Talbot plant - which Tata says is losing £1m a day - into public ownership to safeguard its future until a buyer can be found.
Meanwhile Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones has been facing questions from assembly members over the steel crisis later in a hastily reconvened meeting. He is expected to hold talks with Mr Cameron in Downing Street on Tuesday.
The Welsh Assembly has been recalled from its Easter recess to discuss the crisis, amid calls from its members for the UK and Welsh governments to work together to reduce business rates.The Welsh Assembly has been recalled from its Easter recess to discuss the crisis, amid calls from its members for the UK and Welsh governments to work together to reduce business rates.
Welsh Economy Minister Edwina Hart, who is chairing a steel task force, said Cardiff was willing to look at this, but stressed UK-wide rules limited how much rates could be varied.
It was up to the UK government to take the lead on "fighting for steel" by stepping in with cash, including investment into plants and machinery, she added.