FURIOUS MPs say they ended a meeting over steel company pension talks, accusing a senior boss of dodging the issue and letting down North-East workers.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Steel (APPG) says it halted Westminster talks with Tata over proposed changes to the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS), claiming it was not being taken seriously by management.

However, Tata says it was denied entry to the meeting, despite having been invited to attend, adding it had provided names of senior staff in its party beforehand.

The unrest comes just days after Tata workers in the Community, GMB and Ucatt unions voted to walk out over company plans to remove early retirement enhancements, which staff fear will force them to work until 65.

The row means the threat of the UK’s largest steel industry strike in three decades, when British Steel bases were shutdown over pay, has moved closer.

The APPG, led by chairman and North-East MP Tom Blenkinsop, said it ended its meeting because Dr Karl-Ulrich Köhler, Tata’s European operations chief executive, did not appear.

It said the move was an affront to North-East steelworkers because the firm was in no position to answer questions without him.

However, Tata, which employs about 750 people in the North-East, said Mr Köhler had not even been invited, adding it had sent a high-powered team, including a HR director, for the talks.

It added it remains open for talks to diffuse the situation, but has reiterated it must amend its pension scheme to ease a near £2bn deficit.

However, Mr Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland, said: “This is a matter of such serious concern that we expected a full discussion about the issues and principles at stake.

“It was clear only the chief executive of Tata could provide the answers to our questions, but he only sent his spokespeople.

“We felt there was no point continuing and we’ve demanded Karl Köhler attends in person, so we can hear first-hand how the company has found itself on the brink of the first national steel dispute for 35 years.

“We also want to know what he intends to do to find a resolution to this situation.

“At the least, Tata should be getting back round the table with the unions.”

Reacting to the MPs’ actions, Tata, which runs the Teesside Beam Mill, near Redcar, emphasised it must amend it pensions as it battles difficult market and economic conditions.

A spokesman added: “MPs from steel constituencies decided not to meet us, which meant we were prevented from explaining how we are trying to develop an affordable and sustainable pension scheme.

“Everyone agrees change is needed to resolve the substantial challenges facing the scheme, which has a huge shortfall of up to £2bn.

“We are open to talks and further negotiations with the trade unions; we are putting in every effort to reach a fair and balanced way forward.”

Members of the Unite union at Tata are also expected to support a walk-out.

It is believed a ballot result, due at the end of the week, will follow those of Community, GMB and Ucatt, in pushing for strike action.

The threat comes as Tata works on separate plans to create a new business, which is hoped will support the futures of hundreds of North-East workers.

The company will make its Long Products (LP) division a standalone subsidiary in its European operations.

Known as Longs Steel UK, the switch to the new business is expected to be finalised next month, with bosses hoping it will help attract state funding.

Unions have welcomed the proposals, saying they recommended them earlier this year in a report to officials that looked other options to an LP takeover bid from US billionaire Gary Klesch.

Fears had been raised over jobs at LP, which includes a special profiles plant in Skinningrove, east Cleveland, after Tata opened talks to sell it to Mr Klesch, a former Ohio steel mill electrician.