4. 4. Plaid Cymru Debate: Tata Steel

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:49 pm on 18 January 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of David Rees David Rees Labour 3:49, 18 January 2017

I think the motion’s second point actually highlights that working together is important. The motion’s first point actually says the Government should replace the unions in the negotiations. So, it’s actually a separation—a mixture of the two. 2016 saw Brexit, Trump and an increasingly belligerent Russia. In 2017, we’re already seeing challenges with China and the trading world by Trump’s administration, which could have a greater impact upon Europe, and we wait to see what the knock-on effect of that will be on our steel industry. We have a long way to go. It’s uncertain and unstable. We need to create a sustainable industry. Governments and politicians must work with unions and steelworkers to achieve that. It is our job to work with them, as you quite rightly point out, in partnership, but not to dictate to them our views.