Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Economy and Energy, said that Plaid Cymru's
Welsh Green New Deal would “safeguard communities in south Wales
from thousands of job losses in the steel industry” and would
create “rewarding, meaningful and fair work emerging in the green
and net-zero sector to build a thriving economy” across Wales.
Tata Steel plans to close both blast furnaces in Port Talbot by
the end of September. A new £1.25bn electric arc furnace, which
melts scrap steel, will begin construction in Port Talbot in
summer 2025.
Almost 2,800 jobs are expected to be lost if the plans go ahead –
half of the workforce at the plant.
Luke Fletcher will join today on the campaign
trail in Aberafan Maesteg, the constituency where the Tata Steel
plant is located.
Plaid Cymru is also demanding that more powers over Wales'
economy and resources – including the devolution of the £835m
worth Crown Estate to Wales, as part of its election campaign.
Plaid Cymru have advocated to retain the ability to produce
primary steel in Wales and have fiercely opposed Tata's current
plans to close its blast furnaces in Port Talbot.
Mr Fletcher has long campaigned for the Westminster government to
nationalise the Port Talbot steelworks. Failing this, the party
believes that the Welsh Government should explore options for the
compulsory purchase of the plant while future options for
greening steel production – including through replacing coal with
green hydrogen – are developed.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Economy and Energy, said:
“Wales' economy is being held back by Westminster parties. Yet
after 14 years of Tory austerity and 25 years of a Labour Welsh
Government, Starmer is not offering the hopeful vision that Wales
desperately needs.
“From thousands of good paying and highly skilled jobs at risk in
south Wales, to Westminster's failure to give Wales the powers we
need to be in charge of our own economic destiny – we know this
isn't as good as it gets.
“Plaid Cymru has a clear vision when it comes to safeguarding
these jobs through a just transition, and seeking powers over our
natural resources to help Wales unlock its green potential.”
“Communities in and around Port Talbot know all too well that
neither Labour nor the Tories have a plan to invigorate our
economy. Neither party and their respective governments have
shown any real direction when it comes to saving the thousands of
jobs at risk from Tata's decisions, nor any wider policies to
support a just transition.
“Plaid Cymru's Welsh Green New Deal sets out Plaid Cymru's
exciting vision for Wales' green economy. Not only do we set out
plans to safeguard communities in south Wales from thousands of
job losses in the steel industry, but we have an ambition to
create rewarding, meaningful and fair work emerging in the green
and net-zero sector to build a thriving economy.
“On 4 July the people of Wales have an opportunity to elect a
Plaid Cymru MP to fight for their behalf in Westminster and to
demand the powers we need to unlock our potential as a country.
