Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Starmer attacks Tory deal with Tata Steel

During a campaign visit to Wales, Keir Starmer vowed to “fight for every single job that they have there and for the future of steel here in Wales�

Starmer attacks Tory deal with Tata Steel

LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has attacked the controversial rescue deal thrashed out by the Sunak government to help Tata Steel transition to a less polluting furnace at its Port Talbot plant in the UK.

Tata Steel had struck an agreement with Rishi Sunak earlier this year in which £500 million of state aid was to be provided in return for switching its Port Talbot works to electric arc furnace (EAF) production.


But before the deal between Tata and the government could be signed, Sunak called for a snap poll and it is unlikely to happen before July 4.

During a campaign visit to Wales last week he vowed to “fight for every single job that they have there and for the future of steel here in Wales”.

The Labour is likely to clarify its position on Port Talbot this week.

The switch to greener production would preserve the future of Tatas in the UK. However, the move will lead to 2,800 job losses.

Tata executives argue that it is a necessity to stem losses of £1 million a day at Port Talbot. They have warned that without such a deal, Tata could withdraw from the UK altogether.

The company employs a further 5,000 people across 13 sites in the Midlands, northeast, Yorkshire and Northern Ireland.

Starmer's statement has been welcomed by Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of the steel union Community.

Rickhuss felt it was not too late for the company to change course from their damaging bad deal.

The Indian company is adamant about sticking to its earlier plan to shut Port Talbot’s two remaining blast furnaces by September.

Tata Steel UK chief executive Rajesh Nair wrote to employees that neither the general election nor its outcome will have any impact on the decision to shutter the two remaining blast furnaces.

The company's CEO, T V Narendran, has said that job losses during a transition phase are 'inevitable'.

Narendran said the electric arc furnace will help make the company competitive with a lower production cost, and also help reduce air pollution.

Tata Steel plans to complete its decarbonisation drive in the UK in three years.

Unions step up action

Meanwhile, the union leaders are preparing to ramp up industrial action at Tata Steel's two south Wales steelworks.

Unite said such moves at the Port Talbot and Llanwern works are planned after Tata Steel, which threatened to cut redundancy pay in response to members voting for an overtime ban.

The unions want to keep one blast furnace running while building an electric arc furnace, saving jobs. Tata has rejected the proposal saying it is not financially viable.

Labour has said it would invest £3 billion in the transition to green steel, but it has distanced itself from the unions' demands.

More For You

single-use vapes-iStock

Analysis by Material Focus estimates that 8.2 million vapes are discarded or littered each week in the UK—equivalent to 13 every second. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Shops told to clear single-use vapes before ban starts on June 1

SHOPS across the UK have until 1 June 2025 to sell off remaining stocks of single-use vapes before a nationwide ban comes into force.

The legislation, confirmed last year, follows a government consultation that showed strong support for restricting their sale and supply.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump’s Promise: TikTok Deal Before April 5 to Avoid Ban

This is not the first time that TikTok has been under scrutiny in the United States

Getty

Trump promises TikTok deal before April 5 to prevent ban

As the clock ticks towards the April 5 deadline, the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain, with President Donald Trump promising that a deal to resolve the app's ongoing issues will be struck before the deadline. The central issue at hand is whether TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, will be forced to divest the popular social media platform or face a ban in the U.S.

In a statement made aboard Air Force One late on Sunday, Trump confirmed that there was "tremendous interest" from potential buyers looking to acquire TikTok. He expressed his desire for the platform to "remain alive" and emphasized that multiple buyers were keen on striking a deal, suggesting that a solution would be reached before the deadline.

Keep ReadingShow less
Primark-London-Getty

During his 15-year tenure, Marchant expanded Primark’s store network to more than 450 locations across 17 countries in Europe and the United States. (Photo: Reuters)

Primark chief Paul Marchant steps down after misconduct probe

PAUL MARCHANT, the head of fashion retailer Primark, has resigned with immediate effect after admitting to an "error of judgment" in his behaviour towards a woman in a social setting.

Associated British Foods (AB Foods), Primark's parent company, announced his resignation on Monday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jaguar’s bold gamble: Can it woo young, wealthy drivers with a £123k EV?

Jaguar’s bold gamble: Can it woo young, wealthy drivers with a £123k EV?

JAGUAR’S ambition to seduce younger, richer drivers was on full display in Paris with a presentation of its newest prototype, the Type 00, which promises all-electric luxury... at a steep price.

The low-slung, muscular-looking concept car presented to European reporters last Friday (21) prefigures a production model expected mid-2026 at a base cost of €150,000 (£123,472.8).

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Trump-Getty

Trump has suggested the possibility of a 'great' trade deal that could help the UK mitigate the impact of tariffs he has pledged to introduce. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer, Trump talk trade deal progress in 'productive' discussion

KEIR STARMER and Donald Trump spoke on Sunday about ongoing UK-US trade negotiations, with Downing Street describing the talks as "productive."

Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been working to secure a trade agreement with the United States. Successive British governments have pursued a deal, but it has remained elusive.

Keep ReadingShow less