I didnt see all of pmq's yet, just a few highlights, but it seems jezza missed an open goal on grilling Cameron on the total destruction of the steel industry....how the heck does an economy even operate when it doesn't produce its own steel , tin , copper, coal etc? how will we ever build anything ever again?


meanwhile at port Talbot, TATA said theres a drift mine in margam they were due to open to fuel the steel works, Im informed that mine is ready but they wont use it....how many firms have they bought and closed down now? has this been the plan for years simply to close it all and relocate to india paying dirt cheap labour and energy costs and make the shareholders rich again?



Theres been no follow up to the fact we pay 50% higher energy bills in the uk than mainland Europe...FIFTY PERCENT?????????? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE? IM ABSOLUTELY GUTTED CORBYN SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED TO CRUCIFY CAMERON ON THIS TODAY.

Again at this crucial moment corbyn seems to have disappeared off our screens? is this a media con again or is he simply focusing on the wrong thing? Lets look at the bigger picture....in the 1960s ...63000 steel workers in wales, now only 6500 ...every steel works in west wales is gone bar the ever shrinking trostre in Llanelli and port Talbot the ONLY big steelworks left in the UK and gone down from 18000 to 3000



MEANWHILE as our last industry disappears to India and China all the mass majority seem to care about is starting a poll about some American presidential candidate? 600,000 people and a parliamentary debate? wheres he poll for our steelworkers? we need to prioritise here, charity begins at home



Heres some snippets from the 2012 TATA story re port Talbot and the drift mines etc




Tata could also make significant investment in waste management, so making greater use of by-products from the production of steel.

Tata has confirmed that the proposed investments, don’t account for a potential drift mine at Margam, next to the existing steelworks at Port Talbot.

Tata has been undertaking extensive geological testing at Margam as well as commercial feasibility studies – which have been modelling a return on investment by assessing long-term demand for steel globally and prices for coking coal.

While no timescale has been given for a final decision, if given the go-ahead a coking coal drift mine would involve an investment of £500m and the creation of 500 jobs.

However, it would take up to five years for any coal to reach the surface; such would be the scale and complexity of establishing such a mine operation.

In excess of 380 million tonnes of coking coal has been identified at Margam. If an investment was made by Tata it would initially look to extract around 17 million tonnes, while over time looking to exploit a further 30 million tonnes.

At present Tata imports coking coal, a key raw material in the production of steel at Port Talbot, from Australia. Its current requirement is for around 2.5 million tonnes a year.

While the cost of coking coal fluctuates depending on prevailing demand and supply dynamics globally, having coking coal right on its doorstep at Port Talbot would not only generate considerable cost-savings for Tata, but also provide surety of supply.

Tata has been lobbying the UK Government in a bid to reduce energy costs in the UK, which it says are 50% more expensive than at its plants in mainland Europe.

A spokesman for Tata said there were at least £800m of identifiable potential investment projects in Wales, for what was a capital intensive industry.

He added: “A strong vision was outlined to the First Minister Carwyn Jones by Tata’s vice-chairman last week. Some clear projects would make up that £800m, but we are not ready to commit at this stage.

“However, the key message is that the Welsh Government has got to assist us to make it come about.”

Shadow Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science, Nick Ramsay, said: “This is a welcome boost for the Welsh economy and reaffirms steelmaking as one of Wales’ flagship industries.

“This additional funding will help safeguard thousands of jobs for families in Wales and could help create more.”

I didn't say it 3 times - I said it once and do not know what happened. :laugh:

UKIP is but one of many sources which helps me form my opinion on the EU, and you have the right to be as dissmissive as you like on the reliability of their - or any other pro-Brexit data - but my challenge to have an honest, mature debate on the validity of Josh's statement that we "Get more out of the EU than we put in" is open to you or any other pro-EU member.

It should be fun.

Indeed but I have yet to hear anything positive at all from UKIP as to the EU.
They present te U as having no positives.
I accept there are positives and negatives to being in the EU and I feel that is what people really need to hear and see presented,not just out at any cost and all is wrong in the EU from UKIP.

In fact if UKIP had a softer approach to the EU, I could well easily admire a great deal of what they stand for and especially as to social policy and supporting UK industry too,the main content of this thread.

We probably get more out of being in the EU across the board as to benefits of being in, however it may well be the case, if we could ever get a true picture that we pay too much into the EU.

No media in the UK will present that fair balance and most Political Parties are soundly for or against the EU except for the 2 main Parties at present,wherein in both debate does still go on by pro EU members and sceptics as to relations with the EU in a more 'open' sense of overall looking at both benefits and problems of being in the EU.
Hence the PMs efforts to get at least some reforms or extras for the UK.

But he has NO chance at all Joey - and it is an embarrassment of an empty gesture in him trying.

corbyn totally blew it today , his time is coming to an end

I don't know,he is not asking for that much at all and somehow I feel as to the EU Cameron has fought quite well for the UK, as he should admittedly.

I think Cameron is the best person now to convince voters to back staying in,it really depends what his own Party does as to canvassing for in or out.

I think the EU may just find a way to give him most of what he is asking actually.

because hes not asking for ****