Stocksbridge MP: government must do "everything possible" to save steel jobs
Liberty announced yesterday it's selling its plant in the town
The MP for Stocksbridge is urging the government to step in to help Liberty find a buyer for its steelworks in the town.
Yesterday the company announced it was selling the site, which employs more than 700 people, as part of a big restructuring after its main financial backer Greensill collapsed.
Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Miriam Cates tells us ministers should be willing to provide financial help if it's needed:
"I think there is optimism that the right buyer can be found but I'm calling on the government to do everything possible to make that happen and to be active in that sale process because we do need to find the right buyer.
"Obviously the best case scenario is a fantastic buyer comes along, is willing to invest, and creates a great future for this plant. But I do think it's important, given the strategic nature of the Stocksbridge plant, that the government does step in.
"The Secretary of State Kwasi Kwarteng and the Prime Minister have made many committments to the steel industry, said that we need to preserve jobs, we need to preserve the domestic production, so I am very hopeful that they will become involved and if necessary provide the finance and the incentives that are needed to make that sale successful."
The announcement yesterday came after months of uncertainty for steelworkers across the UK after Greensill went into administration.
We're told the sale process for the Stocksbridge steelworks will get underway shortly.
Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis also wants the government to help Liberty secure the sale:
“The future of the steel industry in South Yorkshire depends on finding a buyer willing to invest for the long-term. Both this site and the wider sector have enormous potential, but the government must act to help secure it.
“That includes being prepared to help provide finance to bridge any transition period until a new buyer is found – but also doing much more to ensure British-made speciality steel like that produced at Stocksbridge is used for the myriad of defence and infrastructure projects that need it."