Rt Hon Dr Denis MacShane

Labour Party | Rotherham

MacShane welcomes fall in unemployment and hopes of new jobs at Corus

20 January 2010

Rotherham MP Denis MacShane has welcomed the modest fall in unemployment figures announced today. "Britain under Labour and Gordon Brown's policy mix has done better than the United States and major EU countries in keeping people in jobs despite the closures and job losses following the economic crisis," said MacShane

According to the Office of National Statistics there is a 7,000 drop in the ILO measure of unemployment, a 15,000 drop in the claimant count and a 7,600 drop in the youth claimant count.

"I was pleased at recent meeting with top management of Corus in Rotherham that the firm may be looking to take on some workers in the course of 2010 providing the outlook for sales remains good. After the annus horriblis for Corus in South Yorkshire last year it is good that steel has a future in Rotherham despite the global pressure on steel in all advanced economies," MacShane said.

Speaking in the Commons, MacShane paid tribute to the cooperation between the Community steel union leadership in Rotherham and Corus managers which had resulted in local production surviving despite the very serious fears of closure last spring.

The Rotherham MP also praised the role of Peter Mandelson who came to visit Corus in the summer at MacShane's invitation. MacShane said: "Lord Mandelson, The first secretary of state and secretary of state for business, innovation and skills came to the Corus steelworks in Rotherham in the summer. I must say that since his visit, things have turned around. We are now narrowly in the black and the unions have worked co-operatively with the management. Mr. Stuart Sansome, the leader of the Corus steelworkers, made a presentation to the Corus board with the local management, which showed partnership at work. Let us place it on the record that Lord Mandelson might help Britain's steel industry to have a future, which was far from certain this time last year."

Speaking to the Rotherham and Barnsley Chamber of Commerce after his Corus visit MacShane warned that Conservative plans to cut regional public spending would devastate the Rotherham economy. "No one should forget that the young Tory ideologues, whose advice to Margaret Thatcher and John Major did such lasting damage to the Rotherham and South Yorkshire economy in terms of business closures and job losses, have now grown up into the new leaders of today’s Tory Party. They would apply the same ideology again, favouring their millionaire friends in the City."

Community Union Leader, Michael Leahy OBE, has written to express support for the Rotherham MP's work to defend the steel industry in South Yorkshire. Said Leahy "Denis MacShane always gives his fullest support to not only the steelworks in Rotherham and Yorkshire but right across the UK, which is very much appreciated. Let’s hope that together we can maintain a steel industry in the UK which is essential if we are to have an effective manufacturing base for future wealth generation."