Kinnock was particularly critical of Sajid Javid, Conservative business minister, and said he should be "reaching out to Honda, Nissan, Jaguar and others" to negotiate arrangements that could build a sustainable future for British steel workers.
Javid claimed that such talks are underway, but that it was impossible to give more detail due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations. He also denied claims that the government sees the current situation purely in terms of financial loss and gain.
"Across Europe, some 70,000 steelworkers have been laid off since 2008," he said. "This is more than just numbers. It is a human tragedy." But he denied that the government’s approach had caused the crisis; blaming instead a lack of global demand and Chinese steel dumping in Europe.
The MPs were speaking at a three-hour emergency debate on the steel crisis, called for by Labour this week. Shadow business minister Angela Eagle said that the debate was necessary because “the situation now facing the steel industry cannot be categorised as anything other than an emergency". She opened proceedings by accusing the government of having "an ideologically-driven reluctance to get involved".
