Corbyn visits Clydebridge
Labour leader tours plant reviving Scottish steel
UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn this week saw first-hand the early stages in the reawakening of Clydebridge steelworks which was rescued from permanent closure last year.
The giant plate works in Cambuslang had been mothballed by previous owners Tata Steel in late 2015 before Liberty House bought it, along with sister Dalzell plate mill at Motherwell, in April 2016.
Liberty re-opened Dalzell in September 2016 and, over recent months, has begun using the facilities at Clydebridge as finishing lines for certain types of steel rolled at Dalzell.
During a two-hour visit on Friday, Mr Corbyn – who was accompanied by Scottish Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, Rutherglen MP Ged Killen and Glasgow MSP James Kelly – was told how use of Clydebridge works has been increasing gradually as more orders come in.
Liberty House’s 200 staff currently divide their time between Dalzell and Clydebridge, but as demand increases, Liberty intends to have a dedicated workforce based full-time at Clydebridge. The Labour leader met Drew McGhie, director of both plants, and VB Garg, chief executive for Liberty Steel rolling mills.
Mr Garg said: “The re-opening of the Scottish plate mills is a major step in the revival of the steel industry and we’re very pleased with the interest being shown in this exciting project by both Scottish and Westminster political leaders.
“Both Clydebridge and Dalzell will play a big part in the achievement of Liberty’s vision for a new sustainable steel sector that will restore skilled jobs and help stimulate the economy in Lanarkshire and Scotland as a whole.”
Mr Killen MP added: “It was great to welcome Jeremy and Kezia to the constituency to hear about the work and future aspirations of Clydebridge.
“The Labour Party recently launched our industrial strategy which sets out our plan for a high waged, high skilled economy. There are real opportunities for growth at Clydebridge and Liberty steel seem optimistic about the future which is promising for our local economy and workforce.”
The steel works currently provide steel for shipbuilding but also for construction, the oil and gas industry and the manufacture of heavy equipment.