Tata Steel: Port Talbot closure forces UK to rely on China for steel as MP raises ‘national security’ concerns
About 2,800 jobs will go over the next 18 months, with a further 300 to be lost after
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Tata’s decision to axe 3,000 jobs at its plant in South Wales will leave the UK reliant on foreign steel imports for years to come, as an MP warned the move raised “serious questions” about national security.
Stephen Kinnock, the shadow minister for immigration and Labour MP for Aberavon - home of the Port Talbot steelworks - said the move leaves the UK the only G20 country unable to make “its own steel from scratch”.
Earlier Tata confirmed plans to close blast furnaces at the plant, with the loss of more than 3,000 jobs. About 2,800 jobs will go over the next 18 months, with a further 300 to be lost after. The Indian-owned firm said the plans were aimed at “reversing more than a decade of losses”.
The move also sparked outrage among several unions.
A statement by the GMB and Community said: “It is an absolute disgrace that Tata Steel, and the UK government, appear intent on pursuing the cheapest instead of the best plan for our industry, our steelworkers and our country.”
Unite ready to defend workers and steel industry
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is ready to use everything in its armoury to defend steel workers and our steel industry.
“We have detailed research demonstrating how and why Tata should be expanding UK steel production in line with growing demand, not slashing its workforce.
“We have secured funding from a future Labour government that could do this.
“Tata’s plan to close the blast furnaces is simply industrial vandalism on a grand scale.”
Unions’ anger at Tata Steel decision to close furnaces at South Wales plant
Unions have reacted with anger after Tata Steel confirmed plans to close blast furnaces at its plant in Port Talbot, South Wales with the loss of thousands of jobs.
Tata said its plans are subject to consultation but could be expected to result in up to 2,800 potential job losses across the business out of which, around 2,500 roles could be impacted during the next 18 months.
Alan Jones reports:
Unions’ anger at Tata Steel decision to close furnaces at South Wales plant
Tata says its plans could be expected to result in up to 2,800 job losses.
Job losses ‘devastating news’ - Wales Green Party
Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said: “This is devastating news for the local community and beyond.
“Wales knows only too well what happens when communities are abandoned by government and industries.
“We saw it with the coal industry and now it is happening again with the steel industry.
“Decarbonisation of industry is vital, but communities and people’s jobs must be protected.
“That means putting unions and workers at the heart of a just transition.”
Closure of blast furnaces a ‘blow for workers’ - CBI Wales
Ian Price, director of CBI Wales said: “Tata Steel’s announcement of the closure of two blast furnaces with the loss of 2,800 jobs is a blow for workers employed at the plant in Port Talbot and in the wider supply chain, which includes a number of local companies, and affects other firms throughout Wales.
“The trade unions and the Welsh and UK governments need to come together with Tata and local businesses to find a way of reskilling and retraining those affected staff and help them return to the labour market.
“The new Freeport in Milford Haven-Neath Port Talbot, and on Anglesey, offer opportunities for workers’ talents to be harnessed in support of the renewables and net zero industry and it is essential the projects are delivered rapidly to support the Welsh economy.”
Horizon IT bugs known for ‘many, many years'
Fujitsu boss Paul Patterson told the inquiry bugs, errors and defects in the Horizon IT system were known about by “all parties” and have been known for “many, many years”, Zoe Grunewald reports.
When asked if Fujitsu knew about the existence of errors and defects at a “corporate level”, Mr Patterson said: “Yes. In fact all the bugs and errors have been known on one level, or not, for many, many years.
“Right from the very start of the deployment of this system there were bugs and errors and defects which were well known to all parties.”
Watch: Post Office victim, 91, trembles as she pleads for dead husband to have seen justice
Watch the clip here.
Full report: Tata Steel confirms 2,800 job losses at Port Talbot site
Tata Steel is cutting thousands of jobs at its plant in Port Talbot, south Wales, after the firm confirmed it is closing both blast furnaces at the site.
The Indian-owned steel giant said it was “not feasible or affordable” to adopt a plan put forward by the GMB and Community unions to keep the furnaces open while transitioning to a greener production method.
Archie Mitchell and Alex Ross report:
Tata Steel confirms 2,800 job losses at Port Talbot site
The cuts come despite Tata being promised up to £500m by the UK government in a bid to keep the plant open and produce steel in a greener way
Postmasters still having problems with shortfalls due to Horizon system, former postmaster says
A former postmaster said that his colleagues were still experiencing shortfalls due to the Horizon computer system, Zoe Grunewald reports.
Talking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “There was a postmistress up in Perthsire [..] and just last month, she had a shortfall of £414.
The fact that this is still going on, still affecting people’s finances, still affecting people’s mental health is absolutely disgusting.”
The Horizon IT system, which led to 700 sub-postmasters being accused of siphoning money, it still being used by the Post Office.
Law Society urges House of Lords to delay ratification of Rwanda treaty
Following news that the Lords’ International Agreements Committee has recommended that the Rwanda treaty is not ratified, the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, has said the treaty should be delayed until Rwanda has proven that it is now safe for asylum seekers, Holly Bancroft reports.
Vice president Richard Atkinson said: “We are pleased to see the Committee shares our view that the conclusion of the Rwanda treaty in itself does not make Rwanda a safe country to send asylum seekers to.
“The Supreme Court ruled that the policy is unlawful on a point of fact, based on a core and well-established principle of international and domestic law, non-refoulement.
“It is a fact that Rwanda is not considered a safe country given the high risk of refoulement of asylum seekers.
“The signing of a treaty does not change this finding of fact."
He added: “There are serious questions about the effectiveness of the treaty which we urge the House of Lords to probe carefully.
“At the very least, peers should endorse the Committee’s recommendation that ratification be delayed until the mechanisms and safeguards in the treaty have been fully implemented.”
Stephen Kinnock’s anger at Tata Steel Port Talbot closure: ‘UK only G20 country that can’t make primary steel’
MP’s anger at Tata Steel closure: UK only G20 country that can’t make primary steel
An MP has urged Tata Steel to “look again” at an alternative union-proposed plan to closing the blast furnaces in south Wales. Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberavon, home of the Port Talbot steelworks, says the closure would see the loss of up to 3,000 jobs. The Shadow Minister for Immigration said Tata Steel’s expected decision to close both blast furnaces would leave the UK as the “only G20 country that can’t make virgin primary steel”. Mr Kinnock described the situation as “deeply frustrating and unnecessary”.
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