‘Port Talbot is a painful reminder of the neglect of Welsh steel communities’ - Plaid Cymru

Speaking ahead of the debate in the House of Commons, Plaid Cymru MP, Ann Davies said:

“Industrial communities in Wales know all too well the consequences of being left behind and neglected when support is needed most. Port Talbot stands as the most painful example - where the blast furnaces were allowed to close in 2024 resulting in thousands of job losses and devastating a community that had a proud history of making primary steel for over a 100 years.

“When the future of Port Talbot’s steelworks hung in the balance, Plaid Cymru argued that everything, including nationalisation, should be on the table, yet those calls were both mocked and ignored. However, when the future of steel production in Scunthorpe and Rotherham came under threat, the UK Government was prepared to take extraordinary steps to protect jobs and safeguard strategic industry.

 “Now, we know there will be further delays to the plans for a £1.25bn electric steel-making furnace in Port Talbot due to problems with electrical connectivity. This only reinforces concerns that Welsh steel has too often been treated as an afterthought rather than a priority.

 “This Bill provides an opportunity to change that. Wales is home not only to Port Talbot, but also to major steel sites at Trostre, Llanwern, Shotton and Cardiff. These communities deserve the same commitment, protection and investment as has been afforded to other areas of the UK. That is why I have tabled amendments to ensure Welsh steel sites receive equivalent support whenever funding is made available in England, and to safeguard resources within the Steel Fund so they can be used to support the transition to low-carbon steelmaking in Wales. Plaid Cymru has consistently stood alongside our industrial communities, and we are determined to ensure they receive the fairness they deserve in the years ahead.”