This is devastating news for the highly skilled workforce and their families. The Orb steelworks has been at the heart of Newport community since 1898. It was totally unacceptable that many heard this through the newspapers yesterday. What is particularly tragic is that this the only UK plant with the potential to produce electric steels for motors and with investment, vision and Government backing this could be the key part of the supply chain for electric vehicles.

We have called for an industrial strategy and this shows why we need it. This is a strategically important business that could be underpinning the UK automotive industry and so I will be contacting UK and Welsh Government ministers urging them to do all they can to help.