“Labour has long called for the Government to take immediate action to help the steel industry because it is of vital strategic importance to our manufacturing supply chain, but the government has been slow to act and has sat on its hands while the industry has descended further into crisis.

“The Government must take urgent action to address the remaining asks from the industry and trade unions, for example to address high energy prices, unfair and anti-competitive practices from some international producers, as well as additional export and procurement support.

“Only by taking immediate and decisive action can the Government make sure the steel industry survives so that it can benefit from planned infrastructure spending.”