Steel industry crisis: We must show mettle and save Tata plant says Wolverhampton MP
A Wolverhampton MP has pressed the government for greater action to protect the city's under-threat Tata Steel plant.
The Tata Steelpark in Wednesfield is up for sale along with the rest of the firm's UK businesses in the face of deteriorating financial performance.
Emma Reynolds, MP for Wolverhampton North East, visited the plant on Steelpark Way to meet with members of the management, workforce and unions.
She said: "The government seems to have finally woken up to the grave threat to the British steel industry, and I am urging them to do all they can to make sure the Steeelpark in Wednesfield has a sustainable long term future.
"The management, workforce and unions are united in achieving this goal."
During her visit Ms Reynolds also toured the site to view recently installed hi-tech equipment. The steelpark employs around 600 workers involved in a number of different production and manufacturing roles.
"This is a viable and productive plant with a committed highly-skilled workforce.
"They have invested nearly £20 million over the last four years on the latest high-tech steel processing equipment.
"I saw car doors being made ready to be sent to the JLR and Mini factories. This steelworks is a vital supplier to businesses in the Black Country and wider region with over one thousand customers."
The government and Tata Steel started the sale process last Monday, although it is understood that there have been no credible expressions of interest in buying the firm's entire UK business, which employs more than 40,000 workers.
The business, which is losing £1 million a day, will be on the market for a matter of weeks before the Indian company closes its sites.
These include the UK's biggest steelworks in Port Talbot.
Tata has said it needs to find a 'credible' buyer for the business and is thought to have concerns about Sanjeev Gupta, the boss of metals group Liberty House and a potential bidder.
Trade unions have also called on Tata to avoid a break-up of the business because it would leave Port Talbot, which is thought to be under particular financial strain, vulnerable to closure.
Senior figures in Tata believe that ThyssenKrupp, the German industrial conglomerate, is one of the only investors with the scale to rescue the business.
But the package offered by the sellers and the government must be 'palatable'.
