The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has promised to back British Steel and has blamed the Conservatives of “complacency and inaction” by failing workers the industry and taxpayers.
Visiting the British Steel site in North Lincolnshire on Thursday Sir Keir announced Labour’s “Green Prosperity Plan” where the party will “invest” in “industry in technology and innovation.”
The Labour leader said, “Steel is integral to a modern economy, and my Labour government will back it, secure it, and grow it, creating high paying, productive jobs in communities all over the country, for generations.
“Through our Green Prosperity Plan, we will invest alongside industry in technology and innovation, as well as increasing demand for UK steel from our plan to build turbines, railways, and carbon capture infrastructure.
“In the last 13 years the Tories’ complacency and inaction has led to a self-defeating cycle of crisis and bailout, failing workers, industry and the taxpayer.
“Securing investment in steel will create a virtuous circle of cheaper infrastructure, jobs, thriving industry, and economic growth. Labour will get on with it.”
Labour will increase generation of offshore wind, nuclear, hydrogen and solar which will provide demand for British Steel.
Rishi Sunak has been accused of acting like a “passive bystander” by not securing international investment in the UK.
Starmer said, “The Prime Minister is impotently asking the President to open up to UK business, but those asks aren’t underpinned by any sense of a plan for UK industry.
“The United States’ ground-breaking legislation has created more jobs in seven months than the UK has in seven years.
“The Conservative response is to criticise it from the side lines, then ask for a piece of the pie, woefully exposing their lack of plan.
“The UK is becoming a passive bystander in a global race for the jobs and industries of the future.
“Labour will pull all levers needed to drive forward jobs and growth in Britain.
“We’ll invest to rebuild Britain’s industrial strength.
“We’ll harness the ambition and hunger of British business, the skills and talents of our workers, and create tens of thousands of high skilled jobs, growing vibrant economies in all parts of the UK.”
A Government spokesperson said, “Steel plays a vital role in the UK economy, supporting local jobs and economic growth. We want to secure a decarbonised, sustainable and competitive future for the UK steel sector, and we are working closely with industry to achieve this.
“We have made an offer of support to British Steel, and continue to engage actively with the company to ensure any investment would be successful and make effective use of taxpayers’ money.”
Leave a Comment