News

Labour ‘gave up fight’ to save Welsh steel, Senedd told

Published

2 years ago

October 2, 2024

LABOUR faced accusations of giving up the fight and making false promises after more than 100 years of traditional steel production came to an end in Port Talbot.

Rhun ap Iorwerth pointed to pre-election promises from prime minister Keir Starmer to fight for every single job at Tata Steel and the future of Welsh steelmaking.

During first minister’s questions on October 1, the day after the closure of blast furnace four, the Plaid Cymru leader asked: “Can the first minister tell us why Labour gave up that fight?”

Eluned Morgan argued Labour was able to negotiate a better deal than the Tories, with improved redundancy and skills packages as well as retention for training.

The first minister said: “There has been an assurance that the £500m that is going to be invested by the UK Government will be clawed back if jobs are not delivered.

***Unimpressed: Plaid Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth (Image: File)***

“None of that was in the agreement that was negotiated by the Conservatives.”

Up to 2,800 jobs are expected to be lost as part of the transition to cleaner, cheaper electric arc furnaces at the UK’s largest steelworks.

In a statement on the same day, Rebecca Evans said the deal between the UK Government and Tata Steel “at least brings certainty to the future and next steps”.

Wales’ new economy secretary, who was appointed in September, told the Senedd the “enhanced” deal includes 100 jobs as part of a furlough-type scheme paid for by Tata.

She stated about £25m has been invested in employment programmes such as ReAct+ and Communities for Work+, with more than 700 workers accessing upskilling schemes.

Pledging to support supply chain businesses, she explained that Business Wales has launched a fund as part of the £80m committed to transition by the UK Government.

“The deal builds a bridge to a competitive and sustainable future for Welsh steel,” she said.

But the Conservatives’ Tom Giffard said many workers will have voted Labour in July’s general election due to the promises made by the party.

He said claims the agreement is substantially different to the one his party proposed “stretch past the point of credibility”, with BBC Wales describing the deals as “virtually identical”.

He told the chamber or Siambr: “Jubilation from the Labour party about minor changes in the smallprint will be of little comfort in homes where workers face the reality of losing their jobs.

“It’s also not what they were sold by a Labour party and a prime minister who on so many fronts said one thing before the election, only to do the exact opposite.”

Mr Giffard, who represents South Wales West, urged Labour to apologise for false promises.

Luke Fletcher, Plaid Cymru’s shadow economy secretary, said the Conservatives and Labour could have prevented the loss of primary steelmaking in Wales.

He told the Senedd: “Members on Labour benches … repeatedly told us that they had a plan to save Welsh steel – that all we had to do was sit tight and wait for Keir Starmer. And I held out hope … but, in the end, Labour had no plan.”

Mr Fletcher accused senior Labour politicians of posturing for the past year, criticising Welsh and UK ministers’ “refusal” to explore all options.

He told the Siambr: “What was needed was political will and political courage from our leaders and that’s exactly what we never got.”

Mr Fletcher added: “We were told to wait and wait and wait – until it was too late. I’m not sure the workers in Port Talbot, their families or the wider community will forgive us for what is happening this week – and I can’t blame them.”

David Rees, who represents Aberavon and chairs the Senedd’s cross-party group on steel, stressed that Tata would not budge on closing the blast furnace.

“We now need to look ahead,” he said. “The people of Port Talbot don’t want political point scoring in this chamber today. They want to know what we are going to do to support them.”

The Labour MS warned that moving to electric arc furnaces will take four or five years as he called for support to ensure workers, families and communities survive the interim.

Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams said she now feels nauseous looking at Port Talbot’s skyline, knowing the hopes of thousands have been extinguished in an “unjust” transition.

Labour’s Mike Hedges, a former steelworker, who worked in Port Talbot, said: “I find it’s a very sad week. We’ve seen the end of iron and steel making in Wales.”

Business

Llangwm brewery closes after entering liquidation

Published

4 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SMALL Pembrokeshire brewing company has been formally wound up after its owners concluded the business could no longer continue.

Black Tar Brewing Co Ltd, which was registered in Llangwm, entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation following a meeting of company members on February 27, 2026.

The meeting was held at the Swansea offices of Stones & Co Insolvency Practitioners, where Gareth Stones was appointed to oversee the closure.

The company’s registered address was at Gail Rise in Llangwm, near Haverfordwest, and official records listed its activities as beer manufacturing.

No public details have yet been released about the size of the business, the value of its assets or the amount owed to creditors.

As liquidator, Mr Stones will now take control of the company’s affairs, identify any remaining assets and determine whether funds are available for those owed money.

Creditors are expected to receive further information as the process develops.

The liquidation was initiated by the company rather than through a court order, meaning its members voted to bring trading to an end and place its finances in the hands of an insolvency practitioner.

A public notice connected to the closure directs creditors and other interested parties to Stones & Co for further information.

The winding-up brings an end to the Llangwm-registered brewery, although the company’s recent level of trading and the number of people connected to the business remain unclear.

Crime

Murder investigation launched into death of Pembrokeshire man in 1991

Published

6 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A 67-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after new potential evidence emerged in connection with a death more than three decades ago.

Dyfed-Powys Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of 58-year-old Bentley Mathias, who died in hospital in 1991.

Mr Mathias died at Morriston Hospital on November 19, 1991, with his cause of death recorded at the time as a brain haemorrhage.

His death was not initially treated as suspicious. However, police said new potential evidence had since come to light, prompting the case to be investigated as a murder enquiry.

On Wednesday, July 22, officers arrested a 67-year-old man from the Llandewi Velfrey area of Pembrokeshire on suspicion of murder.

He has since been released on police bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.

The enquiry remains ongoing.

Education

Haverfordwest pupils impress judges with eco-friendly cleaning business

Published

8 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Ysgol Preseli also represented Pembrokeshire among five finalists at an all-Wales green skills competition

A TEAM of Haverfordwest pupils has earned national recognition after developing a range of environmentally friendly cleaning products aimed at hotels and tourism businesses.

The Sustainables, from Haverfordwest High VC School, presented their idea to business leaders, Welsh Government representatives and sustainability experts at the Tomorrow’s Changemakers Hackathon 2026.

The pupils gave a live demonstration of their product and explained how it could be priced and marketed to businesses across the hospitality sector.

Their combination of environmental thinking and commercial awareness impressed the judging panel, which awarded the team a Highly Commended prize.

Pupils from Ysgol Preseli also reached the final, meaning Pembrokeshire was represented by two of the five teams selected from across south and west Wales.

The competition, held at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Carmarthen, challenged Year 8 pupils to find practical solutions to environmental problems affecting tourism, hospitality and the built environment.

The overall winners were the Green Guardians from Llangatwg Community School in Neath Port Talbot.

Their design for a more sustainable school included an outdoor learning centre which could also operate as a pupil-run garden café.

The hackathon marked the end of a year-long programme in which pupils worked alongside teachers, employers and community organisations to research problems, develop ideas and present their solutions.

More than 1,000 Pembrokeshire pupils have taken part in the Tomorrow’s Changemakers programme since it was introduced in the county in 2023.

The Port of Milford Haven is the programme’s main partner in Pembrokeshire.

Anna Mullarkey, the Port’s stakeholder engagement and communications manager, said: “The creativity and innovation shown by these learners is truly inspiring.

“They transformed their ideas into practical solutions that could help build a more sustainable future.

“We’re proud to support young people in reaching their full potential and delighted to see schools across Pembrokeshire creating environments where ideas and talent can flourish.”

The programme has now worked with more than 3,000 young people across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot.

It is due to expand further from September, with Ysgol Harri Tudor and Ysgol Caer Elen joining the Pembrokeshire programme alongside schools in Swansea, Powys and Bridgend.

Cymbrogi Futures founder and chief executive Liza Lort-Phillips said Pembrokeshire remained at the heart of the initiative.

She said: “The county has extraordinary young people with bold ideas about the future of their communities.

“Our job is to give them the space, the tools and the confidence to act on those ideas.”