Last week I updated the House of Commons on the improved deal that this Labour Government has secured for the workers of Tata Steel and announced our ambitious new UK-wide steel strategy.
Since becoming Secretary of State two months ago, I have had to respond to a series of challenges, not just with the steel industry but in shipping and in other areas where the previous Government had simply ceased to make decisions and left them for us to deal with. That was a dereliction of duty and left the steel industry in particular in a perilous position.
When Tata first announced that it would be closing its blast furnaces, resulting in some 2,800 job losses, I knew that the workforce deserved better. I warned my predecessor not to proceed with what they had negotiated. I was confident that the Government could secure a better deal for the workers and the British economy. I am delighted to have now been able to achieve that.
You can watch my disdain at Conservative dereliction of duty here:
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