Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on the steel crisis following the Prime Minister’s meeting this morning, said:

“With tens of thousands of jobs on the line, the Prime Minister has failed to show any leadership and shows no sign of getting a grip of the very serious situation that has been allowed to worsen on his watch.

“While Ministers have been missing in action as the crisis has deepened in the last few days, the danger signs have been flashing red but have been largely ignored by the Government. The Tories have failed time and again to take the necessary action to support the steel industry through the crisis.

“Steel workers and their families who will be worried sick about their future will take little comfort from the Prime Minister’s warm words. What they need is decisive action to safeguard our steelmaking capacity which is vital to our manufacturing, construction and defence industries.

“As a matter of urgency the Prime Minister needs to meet with representatives of steel workers to develop a plan to save the industry, and recall Parliament to address this growing crisis.”