Tata steelworkers lobby MPs on thousands of job losses

Steelworkers from south Wales have travelled to Westminster to lobby MPs over plans to cut thousands of jobs.

Mark Davies, whose son also works in Port Talbot, said it was "a worry for people about where they'll get jobs" in future.

Labour is staging an opposition debate in the House of Commons. Senedd members will also discuss the plans in Cardiff.

Tata Steel has said its current operations are financially unviable and it will focus on producing greener steel.

The company will build a £1.25bn electric arc furnace after the UK government contributed £500m towards its cost.

But it will end the production of steel from scratch, known as virgin steel, this year.

Mark Davies has worked in Port Talbot for 42 years, and wanted staff of all ages to be protected from redundancies.

"We want to see the next generations making a good living there," he said.

"My boy is only 28, he's in the cold mill. And it is a worry about where they'll get jobs going forward."

Mr Davies said he wanted to see Labour "come off the fence with a firm commitment" about reversing Tata Steel's plans.

The unions would like to see at least one blast furnace to remain operational until the electric furnace has been built.

As well as its financial concerns, Tata Steel has said it would be a safety risk to begin construction while hot metal was still being produced on site.

"I think it's important we go up and show a presence in parliament, for the government to see how serious we are," Gary Keogh said.

A veteran of the steelworks, Mr Keogh said he "expects some answers from the government about why they're prepared to throw our community and our industry away".

Those travelling by train are members of Community, the union that represents most of the workers in the "heavy end" of Port Talbot's steelworks.

The Unite union is also lobbying MPs.

Meanwhile a Plaid Cymru Senedd member said her party would support any decision to take industrial action over closures at Tata.

Sioned Williams, the MS for South Wales West, said: "This is an existential crisis for them

"They've been treated with contempt to be frank. Not only from Tata but I also think from the UK government.

"Plaid Cymru will be standing by them," she added.