David Cameron to meet with ministers over steel crisis
Middlesbrough MP Tom Blenkinsop says government help would prove the SSI plant could have been saved.
The Prime Minister is meeting with members of his cabinet this morning in a bid to save the UK steel industry.
David Cameron rejected demands by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to recall parliament to deal with the crisis.
It comes the day after Tata Steel announced plans to sell off their UK assets after making substantial losses.
15,000 jobs are at risk across the UK, including some in steel plants across the North East.
John Stead works at the site in Hartlepool, he said: "We're hoping the government can make sure Tata are going to be a responsible seller and keeps us going.
"And keeps the skills and everybody else working, until we find a buyer or whatever happens."
Questions are also being asked about how the government can afford to step in to save steel plants, when the SSI plant was left to go into liquidation.
Middlesbrough MP Tom Blenkinsop said: "I find it very interesting that when we begged for this at SSI, we were told it was not practical and it couldn't be done.
"That the situtation was too difficult and the government couldn't step in.
"What is quite clear is that was a load of nonsense.
"We knew we were right at the time and what is quite obvious to everyone in the country now is that something could have been done for Redcar.
"If we can ride this period out and retain those assets, we need to.
"We'll be pressing the government that instead of the constant impotence inaction that we've seen over the last three years, we actually have a government that steps up to the plate."