Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, responding to the news that Scunthorpe steelworkers have voted to accept a rescue plan for the steelworks, said:

“I welcome the news that Scunthorpe steelworkers have voted to accept this rescue plan for the Long Products division.

“This involves changes to workers’ terms and conditions, and I appreciate that for many this will have been a very difficult decision to take. However I am in no doubt that it is the right one for the future of steelmaking in Scunthorpe and the future of steelmaking across the UK.

“The Tory Government now needs to do everything within its power to help find a buyer for the rest of Tata Steel’s UK business. It has so far been asleep at the wheel, and failed to take the decisive action required to save our steel industry.”