Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow BIS Secretary, commenting following the Tata board meeting in Mumbai today on the future of the UK business, said:

“Steel workers at Tata, their families and their communities will be desperately worried this evening as they face ongoing uncertainty.

“Steel is a foundation industry that is hugely important for our economy. The Government should be doing everything possible to protect the industry in the short term as it faces this perfect storm.

“But after months of complacency and after a budget with no strategy for steel, Sajid Javid and his team seem to have gone missing in action at this crucial time. The Government needs to do whatever it takes to save this vital strategic industry which is the cornerstone of our manufacturing sector.”