As residents may have seen in the news today, British Steel are reported to be seeking a £100 million loan form the Government in order to meet EU emissions requirements. Normally these would be settled by carbon permits but because the UK hasn't agreed a deal with the EU on Brexit, these have been suspended.
British Steel were very clear with local MPs that they wanted us to support the PM's deal which would have seen us leave the EU on March 29th had it passed. They were clear that the deal would give British Steel certainty it needed. This was one of the reasons I supported the deal. Sadly, local Labour MPs opposed that, and pretty much every other way of leaving the EU, which has directly led to British Steel asking for this funding.
I wanted to assure residents or two things. Firstly, the reports are clear that there are no threats to jobs or sites at this stage. Secondly, I have already been in contact with Ministers to raise this issue and to support swift action. British Steel have said discussions with the Government are positive and I will do all I can to support the efforts to resolve this.
One of the main reasons I have been prepared to accept a number of different routes for leaving the EU, even though not all of them satisfy my own beliefs, is because local jobs and businesses require certainty.
Sadly, Labour MPs in our region have decided to vote along partisan lines at every stage, against the interests of local businesses and against the decision taken locally by people to leave the EU. As I've stated on many occasions before, they've been aided in this by some on my own side!
However, residents can be assured I am already to work doing all I can to help British Steel resolve this issue.
Andrew