THE MP for Stockton North today in parliament asked if the future of Liberty Steel in Hartlepool would be guaranteed.

Speaking to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons via video link, Alex Cunningham said: "Will he guarantee the future of the steel industry in Hartlepool?"

In response, Kemi Badenoch MP for Saffron Walden and The Exchequer Secretary, said: "As I said in earlier questions on this issue the Government is providing unprecedented support to the steel industry, if he has something specific about the steel industry I'm very happy for him to write to me and I will look at the issues but I have already answered this question and talked about the various measures of support that are in place."

Pressure has been on the Government to step in before Liberty Steel – which employs up to 250 workers at its Hartlepool steel pipe plant, and thousands more across the North, Midlands, Wales and Scotland – becomes insolvent.

The Labour Party have been calling on the Government to intervene by any means necessary – including nationalisation – before it goes bust.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Cunningham said: “Liberty Steel supports hundreds of jobs in Hartlepool and many more in the supply chain across the Tees Valley, yet the Government appear happy to sit on the side-lines and watch it fail like they did with SSI at Redcar. This is utterly unacceptable. Local people need to see real action to protect their jobs and livelihoods. We need the Government to back British steel making and do whatever it takes to save Liberty Steel from collapse.”