A UNION has demanded crisis talks with the Government amid fears the volatile political landscape could undermine efforts to save steel jobs.

Community says ministers must firm up their commitment to securing UK steelmaking or risk seeing the sector crumble.

The warning comes as economic uncertainty and Prime Minister David Cameron’s Brexit-induced resignation threaten to derail action.

The union has called for an urgent meeting with Business Secretary, Sajid Javid, to discuss the future of steelmaking and Tata Steel’s sales process.

The Indian steelmaker previously announced it wanted to sell its loss-making British plants, which include the 600-job Hartlepool pipe mills, after suffering lower prices, increased imports and higher energy costs.

Roy Rickhuss, Community general secretary, said both Mr Javid and Mr Cameron have promises to keep.

He said: “The EU referendum result and the Government turmoil have placed new question marks over Tata Steel’s sales process and the trade unions need to understand what actions Government will take to safeguard the future of UK steelmaking.

“The Prime Minister and the Business Secretary have both looked steelworkers in the eyes and said they would do everything to save the industry.

“Senior EU leave campaigners, like Michael Gove, said leaving the EU would help save steelmaking.

“It is important the entire Government now gets behind steelworkers and helps secure the future of their industry.

“It would be a disaster if our steel industry was allowed to crumble.”

Mr Rickhuss’ warning came as claims emerged Tata Steel is looking to retain its UK operations with the help of Government financial support.

According to some reports, Tata is now looking to keep the business after Whitehall pledged multi-million pound support and help to restructure the company’s pension scheme, which stands at about £15bn and is seen as one of the major barriers to any sale.

Tata bosses, who previously denied suggestions of a U-turn, told The Northern Echo they “remain committed to the best possible outcome for the UK business.”

Its Hartlepool mills are known for supporting energy projects, with bosses previously revealing it would back Maersk Oil’s $4.5bn North Sea Culzean gas scheme.

The steelmaker has already sold its loss-making Long Products division, which employs about 900 people across the North-East and York, to investor Greybull Capital for £1, and bidders, including Liberty House and Excalibur, have made overtures over Tata’s remaining assets.

Long Products, now known as British Steel after Greybull revamped its branding, includes the Teesside Beam Mill, at Lackenby, near Redcar, a special profiles factory, in Skinningrove, east Cleveland, and a smaller Darlington steel finishing base.

The operation makes a variety of heavy industrial steelwork, such as railway lines and goods for the construction industry, and Greybull previously said it has already turned a profit.