David Cameron’s “cheerleading” for trade deals with China has been blamed for another devastating blow to the steel community, as more than 1,000 jobs were axed at Tata Steel plants.
The losses, mostly in South Wales, mean almost 5,000 jobs have disappeared from the steel industry since last summer as firms struggle with high energy costs, business rates and cheap Chinese imports.
Tata confirmed workers’ fears when they unveiled plans to cut 750 posts at the huge Port Talbot plant in South Wales, while 200 support staff elsewhere would be axed. Other jobs are going at Hartlepool, County Durham, and Northamptonshire.
Karl Koehler, chief executive of Tata Steel’s European operations, appeared to blame the European Union for the losses.
He said: “I know this news will be unsettling for all those affected, but these tough actions are critical in the face of extremely difficult market conditions which are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
“We need the European Commission to accelerate its response to unfairly traded imports and increase the robustness of its actions. Not doing so threatens the future of the entire European steel industry.”
The Government came under attack from unions and Labour for doing “too little, too late”. The Shadow Business Secretary, Angela Eagle, said there was “very little concrete action” from the Government.
Roy Rickhuss, of the Community union, was among the trade union leaders who angrily accused ministers of doing too little to support steel workers. “If David Cameron wants to support the steel industry and make sure his Government doesn’t preside over the end of steel-making in the UK, then he needs to stop being weak on China,” he said.
“Everyone in the industry is clear that unfairly traded Chinese steel is the biggest contributor to the UK steel crisis and yet the Prime Minister and his Government are cheerleading for China in Europe."
David Cameron said there was a worldwide glut and over-production of steel, affecting countries around the world.
