MP: Rotherham 'forgotten town' of steel crisis

JOHN Healey has called on the Government to announce £7 million support for steel workers in South Yorkshire.

The Wentworth and Dearne MP fears Rotherham has been forgotten since Tata announced plans in July to shed 720 jobs — including 550 in the borough.

The firm’s European chief executive has confirmed to Mr Healey that other options will be rejected and the cuts will go ahead.

The MP said: “Rotherham has become the forgotten town of the steel crisis.

“We’re being hit just as badly as other parts of the country, we’re facing hundreds of job losses, but the Government is not giving us any of the support pledged to other steel towns.

“It’s a month after the steel summit, when the industry minister came to Rotherham and pledged to help. But there is still no money on the table. They’re all talk and no action.”

Independent experts Syndex were commissioned to look at alternatives to the job losses but European CEO Karl Kohler said the suggestions would be rejected.

Mr Healey is set to speak at a Save Our Steel rally in Sheffield tomorrow.