Labour more ambitious for Tata Steel - Sir Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer and Mark Drakeford visited Port Talbot steelworks on Monday

Labour will be "more ambitious" than the UK government in its plans for the Tata steelworks in Port Talbot, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The UK government has promised Port Talbot £500m to move to greener steel, but it could see thousands lose their jobs.

The Labour party leader said he wanted a "plan that preserves the jobs we've got".

He was on a visit to Port Talbot steelworks.

However Sir Keir did not deny that, once the steelworks transitions to green energy, there would be fewer people working there.

"My biggest concern at the moment is that we have a plan that ends what we've got, has an impression of what we might have but hasn't done the hard yards of the bridge between the two," he said.

The Conservatives said they were offering "one of the largest government support packages in history", while Plaid Cymru accused Sir Keir's plan of lacking detail.

In September the UK government announced extra investment for the Port Talbot steelworks for the installation of new electric arc furnaces.

At the time Tata warned there would be a "transition period including potential deep restructuring" at the plant.

Tata Steel employs about 8,000 people in the UK, 4,000 of those in Port Talbot.

Unions previously said the move to the new less labour-intensive furnaces could lead to thousands of job losses.

Sir Keir Starmer said he would be more ambitious on steel than the UK Conservative government

"We would be more ambitious", he said.

"We want to drive up the demand for steel. We need to go to clean power by 2030.

"That's going to require a lot more steel.

"We want to ensure there's a plan that preserves the jobs that we've got, the experience that we've got.

"Combine that with a bridge to the future so that the future generation of josb is here as well."

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Asked if politicians should be honest and say there will be fewer people needed with green steel, he said: "I think transition is always difficult because there's always anxiety about protecting the jobs that are already in existence. That is completely understandable."

Sir Keir visited the steelworks with Labour First Minister Mark Drakeford, who did not speak to the media at the event.

The UK Labour leader declined to answer whether he would commit to providing HS2 funding to the Welsh government, or look at the Cardiff administration's funding model, following last week's announcement of cuts to help support the NHS and train services.

Instead he said a future UK Labour government would work with the Welsh government "on a rules-based basis, so that we can co-ordinate".

Last week the UK government announced a steelworks transition board would be set up, chaired by Welsh Secretary David TC Davies and including Labour Welsh government economy minister Vaughan Gething.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "This Conservative government announced one of the largest government support packages in history to secure the future of steel-making at Port Talbot.

"As usual, the Labour Party's response is to criticise while promising fanciful and unaffordable sums to keep their union paymasters on-side. The government will continue to work to secure a sustainable and competitive future for the UK steel industry that also gets best value for money for UK taxpayers."

Plaid Cymru's Sioned Williams said: "Keir Starmer says that he has a plan for steel, but doesn't actually go into detail.

"Starmer has very limited knowledge of the Welsh economy, and it will take more than a courtesy visit to Wales to convince workers that he will be on their side at some point in the future."

A Tata Steel spokesperson said: "Our proposals would secure the long-term future for steel making in Port Talbot, bolster UK steel security, and help develop a green industrial ecosystem in south Wales.

"We are committed to meaningful consultation with our trade union partners and will work closely with the UK and Welsh governments through a dedicated transition board to support affected workers and their communities".