THE UK GOVERNMENT’S decision to step in and rescue virgin steel production at Scunthorpe has sparked renewed political pressure on the Welsh Government, with critics accusing Labour of abandoning Port Talbot while protecting jobs in marginal English seats.

Morgan forgets who’s in charge

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth led the criticism, pointing to the stark contrast between Labour’s rhetoric on Port Talbot before the last election and its inaction afterwards. The First Minister, Eluned Morgan, was grilled during First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday (April 29), where she made a notable slip—appearing to confuse the UK Government’s party allegiance.

Responding to Mr ap Iorwerth’s challenge on whether she had pressed for UK support for Port Talbot, the First Minister said: “I have been making representations to the Conservative Government to make sure they understand that—the Labour Government—to make sure they understand that there is an opportunity here to stand with the Welsh workforce…”

Mr ap Iorwerth seized on the gaffe: “That was quite a slip of the tongue, wasn’t it? Betraying the fact that we have such a conservative Labour UK Government. And it simply isn’t true there wasn’t time to save Port Talbot—Scunthorpe was rescued in days, while Port Talbot’s blast furnaces were shut down after three months of silence.”

Steel fund questions dodge real answers

The pressure intensified as Plaid’s Luke Fletcher asked whether the £2.5bn steel fund had been ringfenced to support Welsh jobs. Baroness Morgan offered little more than the assurance that the Welsh Economy Minister had written to the Secretary of State.

That prompted Sam Kurtz MS, the Conservative Shadow Economy Minister, to demand publication of the letter and a guarantee that the electric arc furnace plan at Port Talbot would support the Celtic Freeport.

Instead, the First Minister spoke about a visit to a Danish wind project and reiterated her government’s green energy credentials.

Later that day, Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar asked if the Welsh Government had been consulted on the Scunthorpe rescue plan or informed about the divergence in approach. Morgan did not answer, reverting again to the themes of decarbonisation and net-zero.

Where’s the money going?

Rhun ap Iorwerth returned to the attack, accusing Labour of double standards and failing Welsh workers.

“There is no data on how many Port Talbot workers are re-skilling, no clear support plans, and no clarity on where the money is going,” he said. “Why is a worker in Port Talbot worth less than one in Scunthorpe?”

Sam Kurtz added: “You can’t have it both ways. This government mourns the furnace closures, then boasts about carbon savings. Meanwhile, the jobs go to India and the carbon is released anyway. That’s not an economic strategy—it’s economic surrender.”

Morgan cited a global steel oversupply but did not address how importing blast furnace steel from India or China made Britain greener—or more secure.

Welsh workers treated as ‘second-class citizens’

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds was blunt: “The Scunthorpe rescue confirmed what many in Wales feared—that our workers are second-class citizens. When 2,800 jobs were on the line in Port Talbot, there was no recall of Parliament and no urgent action. For Scunthorpe’s 2,700, the UK Government moved heaven and earth.”

The First Minister’s best defence was to suggest that the Scunthorpe deal might fall through—hardly a reassuring message for Labour backbenchers or Welsh workers.

Meanwhile, the letter to Westminster—long promised—turned out to be little more than a polite request for funding and a reiteration of the Welsh Government’s green strategy.

Trade unions join the backlash

Adding to Morgan’s woes, trade unions issued scathing statements that undermined both the UK and Welsh Governments’ approach.

GMB labelled the energy policy “bonkers”, while Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, warned: “Unite is not against net zero, but it will not be achieved without serious investment in jobs. Working-class people are losing their jobs, and this government has absolutely no plan to replace them. What is Labour waiting for?”

The pressure is now mounting on both Cardiff and Westminster to explain why one community was rescued—and the other left to rust.