UNITE has called on Sir Keir Starmer to endorse the union’s strategy for saving Britain’s steel industry on his visit to Port Talbot steelworks in Wales today.

About 3,000 jobs are expected to be lost at Britain’s biggest steelworks under plans to modernise the plant as it transitions from blast furnaces to greener steel production.

The government’s pledge to invest a mere £500 million in the process with no job guarantees have been slammed as a “disgrace” by Unite, which has proposed a workers’ plan for steel.

Under the plan, the union proposes revising procurement regulations to mandate the exclusive use of British steel in public contracts. According to Unite, such a measure could create 8,000 jobs.

The union also advocates for public funding to support the transition to “green steel” production, the nationalisation of the energy sector, energy bill price controls, as well as solid job guarantees.

Labour pledged to invest £3 billion in modernising the steel industry at its conference two years ago, however Sir Keir ducked questions surrounding public ownership at Unite’s policy conference in July. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Port Talbot can stand at the centre of a vibrant steel industry, if Keir Starmer commits a future Labour government to supporting Unite’s plan for steel.

“Unite’s plan for the future of the UK steel industry, demonstrates how politicians have the opportunity to make Britain a world leader in steel production — we will ensure they grasp it.”