Little Ben Houchen & British Steel

JonnyHistory said:
Tories have some brass neck.

The reason our steel industry is decimated is because of them.

How this liar and thief got re-elected is a microcosm for our national politics. People care about looks and not substance. People who shout not those that act.
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I don't trust the man but would back him if it meant the EAF was built on Teesside. I have a horrible feeling it will be delayed and go to Port Talbot.
 
Ben Houchen Let the people of Teesside down on the closure of the SSI site .
Hid under a rock while Turley fought our corner .
7,000 jobs went and he was no where to be seen.
 
Has the land been sold to his mates ?

Strange that he would back something that is effectively uneconomical. Thatcher would be baulking at the idea
 
Strange - at the last BBC Question Time (10 months ago?) some of the audience were saying the deal for a new blast furnace was done and it was due to Ben Houchen. I guess from the letter nothing has been finalised yet.

Ref national security - can a military tank for example be built from steel from one of all all electric furnaces? Our industrial base has become so small I doubt we could ever protect the country ourselves in a major war and our military forces so small and so poor we could never do a Falklands Conflict again.

Currently we are not even self sufficient in Steel, which is so depressing for a nation that 100 years ago was one of the greatest steel making nations in the World.

Personally I think the new furnace would be a major asset for Teesside and I don't think it should be used a politicised weapon by either the Left or the Right.
 
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Starbuck said:
Has the land been sold to his mates ?

Strange that he would back something that is effectively uneconomical. Thatcher would be baulking at the idea
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His mates are going to provide the electricity for the EAF despite having absolutely zero experience in the field

NE Security will probably get the contract for the site as well.
 
Alan_Breck said:
I think some are forgetting that Vera Baird was MP for Redcar in 2009, the first closure, and did little to protect iron production and the blast furnace during her time on Teesside.

#UTB
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Also, wasn’t this one of the accusations aimed at Turley for losing her seat?
 
Alan_Breck said:
I think some are forgetting that Vera Baird was MP for Redcar in 2009, the first closure, and did little to protect iron production and the blast furnace during her time on Teesside.

#UTB
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Yeah, people have short memories.

Labour bailed out the bankers but failed to support the steelworks.

I remember a fantastic Arts Bank exhibition in Saltburn at the time depicting this.
 
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RedAsABeetroot said:
The choices for British Steel are Teesside or Scunthorpe. Port Talbot is owned by Tata.
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I understand your point regarding ownership but since the announcement of the closure of Port Talbot steel works, they have been making noises regarding an EAF being built at PortTalbot. My fear is both Teesside and Scunthorpe will lose out to the Welsh with the government sending the funding there.
 
If I were a betting man, which I am not, I would say that the government would favour Scunthorpe for the electric arc direct reduction iron making facility. It will be seen that Teesside has currently much potential for jobs with the development of the Freeport status and Tees-Works bringing inward investment whilst North Lincolnshire, Scunthorpe, will be seen as being of greater need.

#UTB
 
Norman_Conquest said:
I understand your point regarding ownership but since the announcement of the closure of Port Talbot steel works, they have been making noises regarding an EAF being built at PortTalbot. My fear is both Teesside and Scunthorpe will lose out to the Welsh with the government sending the funding there.
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The funding for EAF at Port Talbot is already a done deal. The government has pledged £500M to Tata to build an EAF plant.
As ever I suspect that Teesside will get the sh!tty end of the stick. I read an article saying the failure to build an EAF plant on Teesside would be "a blow to Ben Houchen". F**k Ben Houchen, it would be a blow to the people of Teesside and that is what really matters. If people think a failure would be held against Houchen they haven't been paying attention, it would be squarely laid at the door of the current government, which in large part is what fat boy's letter is all about.
 
People are quick to criticise Houchen but have they seen the amount of work going on at teesworks ? More flights announced from Teesside airport. He was even quick to praise Labour after the Hitachi announcement. Whatever you think of him he is trying to do things for the area.
 
Norman_Conquest said:
I understand your point regarding ownership but since the announcement of the closure of Port Talbot steel works, they have been making noises regarding an EAF being built at PortTalbot. My fear is both Teesside and Scunthorpe will lose out to the Welsh with the government sending the funding there.
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I think Tata have already received or had a commitment to government money for their project.
 
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