Tata Steel: Workers confront Business Secretary Sajid Javid in Port Talbot

'The industry is absolutely vital to the future of UK industrial sector. Absolutely vital'

Sajid Javid has assured workers from the Tata Steel plant in Port Talbot their work is “absolutely vital” to the future of the UK industrial sector.

The Business Secretary, who refused to answer questions on any potential buyers due to commercial sensitivity, has faced calls to resign this week after it emerged he had planned a holiday in Australia while up to 40,000 jobs were on the line.

His trip coincided with the crunch Tata board meeting in Mumbai, which led to the steel giant’s decision to sell off its UK assets.

Addressing workers directly for the first time since the crisis erupted, Mr Javid was asked whether the Government was going to let the company "go to the wall",

In response, the Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns, who was standing beside Mr Javid, answered: “We are doing everything we can”.

“Have we got an industry?”, another protestor asked outside the headquarters in South Wales. The Business Secretary responded: “The industry is absolutely vital to the future of UK industrial sector. Absolutely vital”.

When pressed about any potential buyers Mr Javid deflected the question saying it would be wrong, for commercial reasons, to identify anyone expressing interest. “There will almost certainly be people,” he said. “I can’t tell you today who they are… the process is just beginning but there will be some commercial sensitivity.

The UK's largest steel works in Port Talbot (PA)

An analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research think-tank has found that around 40,000 jobs could be lost if no buyer is found for Tata Steel’s UK operations. They include Tata’s 15,000-strong workforce and 25,000 people who depend on it.

The Prime Minister insisted earlier this week the Government is doing “everything it can” to deal with the escalating crisis in the steel industry – but echoed the Business Secretary’s comments that nationalisation is not the solution.

Downing Street has also said it has no plans to recall Parliament, following a petition launched by opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, which has garnered over 100,000 signatures.

(BBC (BBC)

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP, has also added her voice to call on Mr Cameron to recall Parliament in the wake of the crisis in the steel industry.

Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for the South Wales constituency of Aberavon, told Sky News on Thursday morning he was “flabbergasted by the incompetence” shown by the government over the crisis. "It’s a total shambles, and it’s been a shambles for years," he said. "It’s absolutely extraordinary that they’ve been asleep at the wheel for this long."

The Government is also facing claims that it has blocked an EU measure which would have tackled the "dumping" of cheap Chinese steel in Europe - one of main handicaps facing UK producers.