Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, responding to the rumoured deal to secure the future of Tata Steel’s Scunthorpe plant, said:

“If the reports are correct, this is welcome news for the workforce, for Scunthorpe and for the wider steel industry. The trade unions and the plant management should be congratulated for helping to secure the deal.

"While the industry is facing a perfect storm, this shows there is a viable future for steel. 

"The Government failed to heed our warnings of the growing challenges facing the industry and when the crisis escalated, the Business Secretary was missing in action. With the sale of the wider Tata business commencing today, the Government must take all action necessary to address the challenges facing the industry and ensure that a suitable buyer is found.”