Angela Eagle MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, responding to the announcement the Business Secretary is seeking urgent EU talks to discuss the crisis in the Steel industry said:

“This Tory Government has sat on its hands whilst the industry has descended into crisis, they abandoned the people of Redcar, and it has taken thousands of job losses before they have even talked about action.

“The Business Secretary has shown no leadership in Europe and is only visiting after the Opposition has dragged him to this position.

“We have had weeks of talking, now we need action.

“The Government should stop hiding behind Europe when it comes to the Energy Intensive Industries compensation scheme, and should implement the scheme immediately, and get retrospective state aid approval.”