‘It’s got to be Theresa May, even though I’m not a Conservative’
Many steelworkers prefer Theresa May to Jeremy Corbyn at the Tata Steel Social Club in Port Talbot. Megan Griffiths reports.
IT has been a rocky few years for the steel industry in south Wales. Steel workers have faced worrying uncertainty as the future of the Port Talbot works has hung in the balance.
With all three main unions that represent workers in the steel industry recommending their members vote for Labour in the upcoming general election, you might think it would be quite easy to predict which way most steel workers will vote.
Yet at the Tata Steel Social Club in Port Talbot, we found that some in the traditionally safe Labour seat of Aberavon aren’t so certain to vote Labour at all.
The social club has been there for generations. Although it apparently now receives less funding from the steelworks, it’s still a hub for various sports teams and social events for not just steel workers but also retirees and the local community.
Steve Williams, right, worked in the steel works for 45 years until he retired nearly five years ago and helps to run the social club. He is concerned about pensions and the steel crisis and is unclear where it will all lead.
He said: “The pensions are a big burden on Tata. Tata have already given the current workers a new pension scheme. The security of the works, pensions, over the years everyone’s paid into the pension, myself included. I’m worried about the future of the present workers.
“The imports of steel are an issue. There are heavy imports of steel from China, whereas in the States they have massive levies on imports, huge levies.
“Now that Brexit has come and UK is going to be on its own, who knows.
Mr Williams couldn’t speak highly enough of Labour MP Stephen Kinnock, who was first elected in 2015.
He said: “When he first came here, eyebrows were raised because he is the son of Neil Kinnock. Labour has a safe seat in Aberavon but when Steve Kinnock started his reign in Port Talbot, he’s influenced a lot of people. He was instrumental in going to India with the steel workers to try and convince Tata that this was a viable plant.
“He was in continual talks with the Welsh Government on funding for the steel works. He’s the type of guy that is always seen around Port Talbot. He talks a lot of sense. I’ll be voting for him.”
Although Mr Williams likes Mr Kinnock, he’s not a big fan of Labour or Corbyn: “I’ll be voting for Steve Kinnock which is Labour, but I’m not voting for Labour. I’m voting for Steve Kinnock because of his ideals. But in term of Prime Minister, I think Theresa May is the right girl for the job.”
David Brennan, above right, is the manager of the football team at the club and father of seven and is also not too keen on Corbyn.
He said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s a clown. I’ve always supported Labour, but I can’t this time, I just don’t believe in him. It’s got to be Theresa May, even though I’m not a Conservative.
“He just seems so confused and weak. I don’t think he could go over to Europe and get the best deal for Brexit. I’ve got to go with Theresa May, she’s like Thatcher. I’ve voted for Captain Beany a couple of time, but that hasn’t got me anywhere.
One of Mr Brennan’s children lives in Manchester. He’s mainly worried about “immigrants, terrorists, getting rid of Trident”.
He said: “The world is getting dangerous and we need to be strong.
“She [Theresa May] was the home secretary and she knows the score. I have seven kids, one of them is in Manchester now, so it’s got to stop.”
Eric Rees, right, retired a few years ago from the steel works and is a