I’ve joined a cross-party group of MPs calling on the new Business Secretary, Andrea Leadsom, to work to create a strong, sustainable future for the UK Steel industry.

Officers of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Steel have convened a joint letter to Mrs Leadsom calling on her department to use this time of political and economic change to ensure the right foundations for a vibrant and competitive steel industry in the UK. The letter to the Secretary of State highlights that UK steel consumption is expected to climb from 9.5 million tonnes now to 11 million tonnes by 2030, representing a domestic economic opportunity for the sector worth £4 billion a year.

It’s vitally important that the new Business Secretary works to ensure that the UK reaps the benefit of the significant opportunities that exist for our steel industry. The Government needs to meet the challenges facing the sector head on – particularly in regards to sky-high energy prices, steel dumping, procurement, and our future relationship with trading partners in Europe.

I hope that the new Secretary of State will be willing to work with steel MPs and stakeholders to progress a steel sector deal, which is something we have been waiting far too long for. Now more than ever, we need Government action and a meaningful commitment to supporting our steel industry.