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tv   BBC News  BBC News  January 19, 2024 11:45am-12:01pm GMT

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why the unions have i think that is why the unions have been _ i think that is why the unions have been particularly vociferous and so disappointed, that there wasn't actually— disappointed, that there wasn't actually some extra funding coming through. _ actually some extra funding coming through, some extra help to see their_ through, some extra help to see their plan— through, some extra help to see their plan over the line, to have this extra — their plan over the line, to have this extra transition period whereby not so _ this extra transition period whereby not so manyjobs will be lost. there is an_ not so manyjobs will be lost. there is an understanding of course that the plant — is an understanding of course that the plant needs to transform, there needs— the plant needs to transform, there needs to _ the plant needs to transform, there needs to be much more environmentally friendly steel— making here environmentally friendly steel—making here in the uk, but it is the _ steel—making here in the uk, but it is the shock— steel—making here in the uk, but it is the shock of how this has happened so quickly with so many 'obs happened so quickly with so many jobs expected to go by september. i think that _ jobs expected to go by september. i think that is what you're seeing this reat— think that is what you're seeing this real outcry. the share price has risen. — this real outcry. the share price has risen, but there is a lot of questions _ has risen, but there is a lot of questions that still need to be answered about the longer term industrial— answered about the longer term industrial strategy in the uk as a whole _ industrial strategy in the uk as a whole because, of course, this chopping — whole because, of course, this chopping and changing, at one minute there is— chopping and changing, at one minute there is support, the next minute there is support, the next minute the result — there is support, the next minute the result. you heard from the prime mirrister— the result. you heard from the prime minister that the government has
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offered _ minister that the government has offered support, but there is disappointment that that support isn't big — disappointment that that support isn't big enough to enable a longer transition — isn't big enough to enable a longer transition to keep the community alive _ transition to keep the community alive and — transition to keep the community alive and not be devastated by these 'ob alive and not be devastated by these job cuts _ alive and not be devastated by these job cuts. we alive and not be devastated by these “ob cuts. ~ to, alive and not be devastated by these “ob cuts. ~ . ., job cuts. we can get away from the fact that demand _ job cuts. we can get away from the fact that demand for _ job cuts. we can get away from the fact that demand for steel - job cuts. we can get away from the fact that demand for steel over - job cuts. we can get away from the fact that demand for steel over the i fact that demand for steel over the last say ten years or more has decreased, has weakened. it decreased, has weakened. it certainly has weakened. it is cyclicai _ certainly has weakened. it is cyclical. it goes with the global demand — cyclical. it goes with the global demand and economic cycles, but certainly— demand and economic cycles, but certainly what will happen in the interim — certainly what will happen in the interim period is that steel will have _ interim period is that steel will have to — interim period is that steel will have to be imported to make up the shortfall— have to be imported to make up the shortfall and that is why there is so much — shortfall and that is why there is so much disappointment at this turn of events _ so much disappointment at this turn of events it — so much disappointment at this turn of events. it is why the unions are unlikely— of events. it is why the unions are unlikely to — of events. it is why the unions are unlikely to stop their fight to try and reverse this decision. i don't think— and reverse this decision. i don't think it _ and reverse this decision. i don't think it would be likely, unfortunately. as you say, it is a
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cyclical _ unfortunately. as you say, it is a cyclical business and it is difficult _ cyclical business and it is difficult to maintain that when steel— difficult to maintain that when steei can _ difficult to maintain that when steel can be produced much more cheaply— steel can be produced much more cheaply abroad.— steel can be produced much more cheaply abroad. tatter group are a hue cheaply abroad. tatter group are a huge groun. _ cheaply abroad. tatter group are a huge groun. huge _ cheaply abroad. tatter group are a huge group, huge conglomerate. i cheaply abroad. tatter group are a l huge group, huge conglomerate. in the uk its interest go beyond steel, as well. ., v �* the uk its interest go beyond steel, as well. . �*, �* . . , as well. that's right. but certainly when investors _ as well. that's right. but certainly when investors looked _ as well. that's right. but certainly when investors looked right - as well. that's right. but certainly| when investors looked right across the piece — when investors looked right across the piece they can spot various different— the piece they can spot various different areas within tata as a group — different areas within tata as a group that have been struggling. that is— group that have been struggling. that is where the focus has certainly _ that is where the focus has certainly come to particularly the port talbot site. for those workers there _ port talbot site. for those workers there it _ port talbot site. for those workers there it is — port talbot site. for those workers there it is devastating news. tata steel— there it is devastating news. tata steel pulling out temporarily, dosing — steel pulling out temporarily, closing these two blast furnaces, will really — closing these two blast furnaces, will really make a huge impact on the community, even though the plant will continue there, it is not a complete _ will continue there, it is not a complete withdrawal, but it is going to be a _ complete withdrawal, but it is going to be a lot _ complete withdrawal, but it is going to be a lot more limited, the
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activity. _ to be a lot more limited, the activity, at that site. just 70 miies— activity, at that site. just 70 miles up— activity, at that site. just 70 miles up the m4 from where i am now in bristol, _ miles up the m4 from where i am now in bristol, the furnaces are a landmark— in bristol, the furnaces are a landmark and also the really to support— landmark and also the really to support the local economy. most of the jobs _ support the local economy. most of the jobs in — support the local economy. most of the jobs in that economy, from the steetworks — the jobs in that economy, from the steelworks. 0therthan the jobs in that economy, from the steelworks. other than that it is 'ust steelworks. other than that it is just health care, otherjobs like that, _ just health care, otherjobs like that, there are around a thousand vacancies— that, there are around a thousand vacancies at — that, there are around a thousand vacancies at the moment i understand in the _ vacancies at the moment i understand in the iocai— vacancies at the moment i understand in the local economy, but they are much _ in the local economy, but they are much lower— in the local economy, but they are much lower paying jobs, so it will be very— much lower paying jobs, so it will be very difficult for those workers who are _ be very difficult for those workers who are losing theirjobs to find good, _ who are losing theirjobs to find good, well—paid jobs elsewhere. that is why— good, well—paid jobs elsewhere. that is why there — good, well—paid jobs elsewhere. that is why there is an outcry. we good, well-paid jobs elsewhere. that is why there is an outcry.— is why there is an outcry. we have had the world _ is why there is an outcry. we have had the world economic _ is why there is an outcry. we have had the world economic forum i is why there is an outcry. we have had the world economic forum in | had the world economic forum in davosin had the world economic forum in davos in the next clash last few days. we have seen the chancellor in davos on a charm offensive tried to attract more business to this
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country, sojob attract more business to this country, so job cuts from tata steel, what is this to to brand britain abroad, do you think? obviously, it is very disappointing in terms — obviously, it is very disappointing in terms of— obviously, it is very disappointing in terms of industrial and investor sentiment~ — in terms of industrial and investor sentiment. on the other hand, there is going _ sentiment. on the other hand, there is going to _ sentiment. on the other hand, there is going to be a very tricky transition towards a greener, cleaner— transition towards a greener, cleaner manufacturing and energy production. i think there is an understanding that this transition will be _ understanding that this transition will be a — understanding that this transition will be a very bumpy one. it may reduce _ will be a very bumpy one. it may reduce sentiment a little bit, i think— reduce sentiment a little bit, i think the — reduce sentiment a little bit, i think the point isjust how much the government is willing to support the transition _ government is willing to support the transition and that is why there is disappointment that clearly there wasn't _ disappointment that clearly there wasn't enough on the table from the government... from tata steel smacks point of—
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government... from tata steel smacks point of view— government... from tata steel smacks point of view to —— from tata steel pass— point of view to —— from tata steel pass at— point of view to —— from tata steel pass at point — point of view to —— from tata steel pass at point of view. what other industries — pass at point of view. what other industries would like to see is that there _ industries would like to see is that there might be support down the line to enable _ there might be support down the line to enable this transition to a greener, _ to enable this transition to a greener, cleaner manufacturing in the future — greener, cleaner manufacturing in the future. ., ~' greener, cleaner manufacturing in the future. . ,, , ., , . greener, cleaner manufacturing in the future. . ,, , . ., the future. thank you very much for 'oinin: the future. thank you very much for joining us- — the future. thank you very much for joining us- we _ the future. thank you very much for joining us. we can _ the future. thank you very much for joining us. we can hear— the future. thank you very much for joining us. we can hear noise - the future. thank you very much for joining us. we can hear noise from | joining us. we can hear noise from stephen kinnock, a local mp in port talbot. he had this to say earlier. people are feeling very concerned and also _ people are feeling very concerned and also very disappointed. we note that the _ and also very disappointed. we note that the multi—unions have put a plan _ that the multi—unions have put a plan on — that the multi—unions have put a plan on the _ that the multi—unions have put a plan on the table which was a compelling plan, that would enable us to keep one of the blast furnaces open _ us to keep one of the blast furnaces open whiist — us to keep one of the blast furnaces open whilst building an electric arc furnace _ open whilst building an electric arc furnace and built in direct produced iron capability which would have given— iron capability which would have given us— iron capability which would have given us that bridge to the future that we _ given us that bridge to the future that we want to have, rather than
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this cliff— that we want to have, rather than this cliff edge which is going to potentially lead to up to 3,000 job losses— potentially lead to up to 3,000 job losses and remove the ability of the united _ losses and remove the ability of the united kingdom to make its own steei~ _ united kingdom to make its own steei~ we — united kingdom to make its own steel. we would be the only country in the _ steel. we would be the only country in the 620 _ steel. we would be the only country in the 620 unable to do that. we urge _ in the 620 unable to do that. we urge tata — in the 620 unable to do that. we urge tata steel to get back round the table — urge tata steel to get back round the table with the trade unions and to look— the table with the trade unions and to look at— the table with the trade unions and to look at this again. we the table with the trade unions and to look at this again.— to look at this again. we will bring back into jess _ to look at this again. we will bring back into jess ralston, _ to look at this again. we will bring back into jess ralston, the - to look at this again. we will bring back into jess ralston, the head i to look at this again. we will bring | back into jess ralston, the head of back intojess ralston, the head of energy at the think tank. jess, in terms of what we have just been hearing from various reporters about the effects this will have on the local community, can you tell us a bit about your experience of this elsewhere. have you seen these kind ofjob cuts in relation to steel demand weakening and this transition into a greenerfuture?
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into a greener future? interestingly, there is actually quite — interestingly, there is actually quite a — interestingly, there is actually quite a lot of examples of other countries — quite a lot of examples of other countries moving from using cold biast _ countries moving from using cold blast furnaces, the very old, inefficient technologies, to using hydrogen instead to make this urgent steei~ _ hydrogen instead to make this urgent steei~ i_ hydrogen instead to make this urgent steei~ i was _ hydrogen instead to make this urgent steel. i was talking to somebody from _ steel. i was talking to somebody from germany yesterday and he was saying _ from germany yesterday and he was saying how — from germany yesterday and he was saying how they view the transition to steel—making saying how they view the transition to steel— making not saying how they view the transition to steel—making not as a subsidy or something — to steel—making not as a subsidy or something that needs to be supported, but something that needs investing _ supported, but something that needs investing in because they want to be able to— investing in because they want to be able to retain the ability to make their— able to retain the ability to make their own — able to retain the ability to make their own virgin steel. with us choosing — their own virgin steel. with us choosing to shut these furnaces we will not _ choosing to shut these furnaces we will not have that ability any more so we _ will not have that ability any more so we will— will not have that ability any more so we will have to import from abroad — so we will have to import from abroad. there is a security angle to this as _ abroad. there is a security angle to this as well— abroad. there is a security angle to this as well which is very important. 6ermany this as well which is very important. germany is a good example of it being _ important. germany is a good example of it being done well, so is scandinavia. across scandinavia there _ scandinavia. across scandinavia there are — scandinavia. across scandinavia there are quite a few hydrogen plants— there are quite a few hydrogen plants that make steel. we know it can work. — plants that make steel. we know it can work, we are just not yet sure how much— can work, we are just not yet sure how much it — can work, we are just not yet sure how much it will cost and how many
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'obs how much it will cost and how many jobs are _ how much it will cost and how many jobs are ok — how much it will cost and how many jobs are ok. these things are happening elsewhere but not in the uk. ., ., ., happening elsewhere but not in the uk. . ., ., i: , uk. there are around 40 green steel lants uk. there are around 40 green steel [ants in uk. there are around 40 green steel plants in eur0pe _ uk. there are around 40 green steel plants in europe that _ uk. there are around 40 green steel plants in europe that are _ uk. there are around 40 green steel plants in europe that are keeping - plants in europe that are keeping jobs in steel, as you say. exactly. last ear jobs in steel, as you say. exactly. last year we _ jobs in steel, as you say. exactly. last year we find _ jobs in steel, as you say. exactly. last year we find there _ jobs in steel, as you say. exactly. last year we find there was - jobs in steel, as you say. exactly. last year we find there was about jobs in steel, as you say. exactly. i last year we find there was about 25 in europe _ last year we find there was about 25 in europe and none in the uk. just at the _ in europe and none in the uk. just at the end — in europe and none in the uk. just at the end of last year we found that there — at the end of last year we found that there are about 40 now in europe — that there are about 40 now in europe and we have probably got one now because we are moving to this electric— now because we are moving to this electric arc— now because we are moving to this electric arc furnace. the difference is stark~ _ electric arc furnace. the difference is stark. that comes from a lack of a strategic— is stark. that comes from a lack of a strategic plan about what we will do with— a strategic plan about what we will do with our industries. we can have bits of— do with our industries. we can have bits of investment, £500 million the government has given to tata and as an investment to british steel, as weii~ _ an investment to british steel, as weii~ 0f— an investment to british steel, as well. of course these things help to keep well. of course these things help to keebjobs, — well. of course these things help to keepjobs, but at well. of course these things help to keep jobs, but at the same well. of course these things help to keepjobs, but at the same time it is a very— keepjobs, but at the same time it is a very piecemeal approach and it doesn't _ is a very piecemeal approach and it doesn't help to create that cohesive certaintv _ doesn't help to create that cohesive certainty that investors looked for. thank _ certainty that investors looked for. thank you —
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certainty that investors looked for. thank you very much forjoining us. we cannot go to our correspondent in port talbot. obviously the news was expected and the job figures slightly less bad than expected, 2800 as opposed to 3,000, but it is still grim news up there. i 2800 as opposed to 3,000, but it is still grim news up there.— still grim news up there. i think there is very — still grim news up there. i think there is very little _ still grim news up there. i think there is very little good - still grim news up there. i think there is very little good news i still grim news up there. i think there is very little good news in there is very little good news in the fact — there is very little good news in the fact that it is a couple of hundred _ the fact that it is a couple of hundred less in the 3,000. the bulk of those _ hundred less in the 3,000. the bulk of those jobs, 2500, will be lost within— of those jobs, 2500, will be lost within 18 — of those jobs, 2500, will be lost within 18 months. we understand that many will— within 18 months. we understand that many will go potentially by the end of this— many will go potentially by the end of this year. that is because of the two biast _ of this year. that is because of the two blast furnaces you can see behind — two blast furnaces you can see behind me. one will be closed before we are _ behind me. one will be closed before we are into _ behind me. one will be closed before we are into the summer, so byjune, and the— we are into the summer, so byjune, and the other— we are into the summer, so byjune, and the other will be decommissioned by and the other will be decommissioned bv the _ and the other will be decommissioned bv the end _ and the other will be decommissioned by the end of the year. they are a vital— by the end of the year. they are a vital part— by the end of the year. they are a vital part of— by the end of the year. they are a vital part of how this place works at the _ vital part of how this place works at the moment. they are what creates
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the liquid _ at the moment. they are what creates the liquid iron that goes into steei~ — the liquid iron that goes into steel. without the jobs that feed those _ steel. without the jobs that feed those furnaces, the processes that come _ those furnaces, the processes that come from — those furnaces, the processes that come from it, then this place will need _ come from it, then this place will need far. — come from it, then this place will need far, far fewer workers. there is a little _ need far, far fewer workers. there is a little bit — need far, far fewer workers. there is a little bit of good news in that the rolling — is a little bit of good news in that the rolling mill will continue in the rolling mill will continue in the interim period, we are told, untit— the interim period, we are told, until the — the interim period, we are told, until the new electric arc furnaces set ”p _ until the new electric arc furnaces setup. according to the release from _ setup. according to the release from tata — setup. according to the release from tata today, they don't see that coming _ from tata today, they don't see that coming into— from tata today, they don't see that coming into action until 2027. thank coming into action until2027. thank ou for coming into action until2027. thank you for that — coming into action until2027. thank you for that update. _ coming into action until2027. thank you for that update. just _ coming into action until2027. thank you for that update. just to - coming into action until2027. thank you for that update. just to let - coming into action until2027. thank you for that update. just to let you | you for that update. just to let you know that tata steel has said it is going to endeavour to maximise voluntary redundancies. it is promising £130 million support package for affected employees, including redundancy terms, community programmes and job opportunities. to stay with us.
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hello. the cold and wintry weather is coming to an end. yesterday, we saw temperatures barely limp above freezing in many parts of the uk. but as we hop forward into the start of next week, notice the big jump in temperatures. with it, though, will come wind and rain and, of course, with temperatures into the teens, a lot of snow that's fallen will have melted. at the moment, this is roughly where we've got snow lying on the ground, over a foot of snow this morning in the north of scotland. and still some snow falling here, but already some changes with a westerly wind, a lot of that snow is turning back to rain and sleet in lowland sites. still a few sleet and snow showers in northern england and northern ireland, but the vast majority stay dry and sunny through the rest of this afternoon. temperatures up just a little bit on yesterday, but still chilly at around 4—6 degrees. then into this evening, we'll see in central and southern parts of england and wales,
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a frost develop quite quickly, but it will be one where the frost lifts later in the night. south westerly winds developing, cloud into the west and outbreaks of rain rather than snow pushing in across parts of scotland, northern ireland, northwest england and north west wales. and so as we start your weekend, temperatures for just about all will be above freezing and those temperatures climb further. you'll notice on this chart where we show the air mass with the pressure, something warmer comes our way for sunday, but also wetter and windier and even some wet weather around on saturday. saturday, some of the wettest conditions will be in parts of north west england, north—west wales, rain on and off here through the day, heaviest in the morning. to the south and east of that, many will stay dry. more cloud, though, than we've seen through recent days to north and west of it. during the day at least, scotland, northern ireland, a few splashes of rain. some will be dry and bright, especially to the north—east and temperatures up on today's values. we finish saturday with some increasingly wet and windy weather in the west with gales in places.
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and those strong winds will last into sunday, especially for england and wales, as more weather fronts wriggle across the uk. so for sunday, lots of rain for england and wales, though around the english channel it may stay dry. that rain then spreads its way northwards into northern ireland, southern scotland. winds lightest across scotland, but gales further south and those gales coming from a south westerly direction lift temperatures into double figures more widely. sunday night, though, will be particularly wild and windy and that could have some impacts for those of you heading into work on monday morning. stay across the forecast because there could be some disruption possible.
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live from london. this is bbc news. thousands ofjobs will go at tata steel — as the firm closes blast furnaces at britain's biggest steelworks in port talbot. we are absolutely committed to steel—making in the uk and that is why the government provide half £1 billion to support tata steel. we'll be live on both sides of this story with our correspondents in delhi and port talbot. criticism from the us, after israel's prime minister publicly rejects calls to establish a palestinian state once the war in gaza ends. translation: israel needs security control over all territory west - of the jordan river. and could it be the end of the large wine glass — we'll find out why pubs in the uk could be removing them.

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