Sarah Champion Welcomes Publication of Landmark Steel Strategy
“The publication of the Government’s Steel Strategy is a landmark moment for steel production in the UK.’
‘As Rotherham’s Member of Parliament, I spent more than a decade urging the previous Government to defend the vital strategic asset our steel sector represents, and to recognise its vast potential to drive the UK economy.’
‘The Labour Government has done more for steel in just two years than has been achieved in decades. Their commitment to our steel industry, including stepping in to protect steel assets facing closure in Rotherham, has come as a breath of fresh air.’
‘Our domestic steel industry is not a relic. It is world leading. It has been held back not by the quality of its products, but by a lack of vision in previous governments and a failure to provide the level playing field it needs in order to thrive. By taking long overdue trade measures to protect against cheap, subsidised foreign steel, I hope that much needed parity will finally become a reality.’
‘The Strategy is a testament to the Government’s collaborative approach to developing its steel policy. For far too long, the views of the sector have been taken as, at best, an afterthought. In contrast, the Steel Strategy has been built from the ground up with the involvement of those who understand the sector best: steel businesses, steel workers and trade unions.’
‘However, the Strategy must be a road map, not journey’s end. There is still much to do if we are to make the vision it sets out of a thriving domestic steel sector a reality. In particular, we need urgent action to address the structural causes of high energy prices that continue to hold back our industry, and reform on carbon policies that risk leaving Chinese steel imports cheaper than low-emission, locally produced steel.’
‘I will continue to work to ensure that the Steel Strategy is not a high watermark, but a blueprint that will put our steel sector where it belongs: at the heart of the UK economy.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors: