In Parliament this week I challenged the Government to show by its actions that it values the manufacturing industry in Britain.

My question followed the news that British Steel has been placed in compulsory liquidation, putting 5,000 jobs at risk in Scunthorpe and the Tees Valley, and endangering 20,000 other jobs in the supply chain.

Speaking during the Urgent Statement on steel this week, I said “I know that steelworkers in the community I represent will be very much thinking about those affected by the announcement at British Steel sites today. Does the Minister acknowledge that the uncertainty around thousands of jobs, including those in the supply chain, could pose a threat to other steel companies because of the potential weakening of that chain? The Government must show by its actions that it values the manufacturing industry.”

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Greg Clark responded saying that he acknowledged the need to ‘consider and act’ to address the on the impact on the wider steel supply chain.

As I stated during the Urgent Question on steel earlier in the week, it is vital that the Government understands that the current situation makes it even more crucial that we have a robust and positive industrial strategy, with steel as a key part, and a sector deal. I will continue to call for this on behalf of steelworkers in my constituency at Orb, Llanwern and Liberty.

Labour’s Shadow Business Minister, Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, also criticised the Government for the lack of support for the steel industry in the Government’s industrial strategy, which she said was ‘undermining the sector’s ability to compete’.