WELSH nationalists today slammed the First Minister’s four-month delay in responding to a letter about Port Talbot steelworks.

Plaid Cymru said the Welsh government’s weak acceptance of Westminster’s betrayal of Port Talbot showed a serious failure of leadership.

Party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth received a response to his letter the day it was announced that the British government was prepared to take control of Britain’s third-largest steelworks in South Yorkshire.

Mr ap Iorwerth wrote to the First Minister on April 12, emphasising the strategic importance of maintaining primary steel-making capabilities in Wales.

The Plaid leader criticised the Westminster government for failing to respond to the crisis in Port Talbot in the same way it did in Scunthorpe: by bringing forward emergency legislation to allow British Steel to be nationalised.

The First Minister was reminded that when Mr ap Iorwerth called for everything to be on the table to save jobs in Port Talbot, including nationalisation, she called it a “pipe dream.”

Mr ap Iorwerth had asked for confirmation about the discussions the Welsh government had with Westminster about the future of steelmaking in Wales.

In her response, the First Minister said any steps to nationalise the steel industry are a matter for the Westminster government.

Ms Morgan said the situation in Scunthorpe was “very different” to the circumstances in Port Talbot. 

The First Minister also confirmed that the Welsh government was not involved in any negotiations regarding the details of the Grant Funding Agreement between Tata Steel and the Westminster government.