Owen Smith, Labour’s Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary, commenting on new government statistics that show over half of SSI steel workers in Redcar are still looking for work four months after the steel plant closure, said:

“The Tories have badly failed British steel workers by sitting on their hands, while our steel industry has been collapsing around us.  Now these figures show that they are at risk of failing people after they have been laid off as well.

“It’s galling to see that over half of workers from the SSI steel workers in Redcar and its supply chains, are still out of a job almost four months after the plant has closed.  These are men and women who have worked hard all their lives and will be desperate to get new jobs, but the opportunities and support is simply not there.  So much for the Tories’ talk of rebalancing the economy.

“The government must urgently do more to help get people back in to work.  They also need to learn the lessons from Redcar and make sure that the best possible support is available to the steel workers who have been told they are at risk of losing their jobs this week.”