MP's crisis debate for Teesside steel plant

North East MPs have led an emergency Commons debate about the crisis facing steelmaking on Teesside and the potential loss of thousands of jobs.

The Government's facing calls to protect the loss-making Redcar iron and steel plant, whose Thai owners, SSI, have missed a crucial loan re-payment deadline.

SSI rescued the former British Steel works five years ago, but the industry is currently in crisis because of a collapse in demand and soaring costs.

Eighteen hundred people work at the Teesside plant, with 1.000 more employed by contractors.

Redcar MP Anna Turley, and Hartlepool's Iain Wright, both spoke at the emergency debate