Alex comments on SSI liquidation

Commenting on the news that SSI (UK) has gone into liquidation, Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North, said:

“I share the distress of thousands of people throughout Teesside, and beyond, at today’s news which comes just a few days after the company spoke of mothballing the Redcar plant.

“I welcome the hard work of my fellow MPs and the Minister for Steel, Anna Soubry, as they strive to find a way of maintaining the plant for steel working to be restarted in the future and know they will do all they can to provide hope for the communities hardest hit by the news.  The steel industry is key not just to Teesside but to our nation, and mustn’t be allowed to die.

“I am also extremely concerned to learn of the huge debts that SSI has run up at the expense of local contractors and companies who they continued to use right up until now.  This alone has led to huge personal losses for many of my Stockton North constituents, running into many thousands of pounds.  I only hope that, as part of the Government’s limited compensation package, these people will not be forgotten.”