Alex Salmond: Sajid Javid like rabbit in headlights over steel jobs

Alex Salmond has said that the UK's business secretary Sajid Javid has acted like 'a rabbit caught in the headlights in' with his response to the crisis facing the British steel industry.

Alex Salmond. Picture: PA

Mr Salmond said the UK government’s reaction was in stark contrast to the “affirmative” action of the Scottish Government which bought endangered plants from Tata steel at Dalzell and Clydebridge in order to sell them on.

The former first minister’s remarks came as Mr Javid said the UK government was ready to provide support in order to clinch a deal to save the Port Talbot steelworks.

However, Mr Salmond, speaking on the Sky News Murnaghan programme, said: “What a contrast between the actions of the Scottish Government which bought the plants so they can be sold on and those of the UK Government.”
Mr Salmond went onto claim that the business secretary had been like a “rabbit caught in the headlights,” as he said the UK government had failed to take decisive action to support the industry.

Mr Javid said he believed there was time to find a buyer for the South Wales plant and the other UK assets of Tata Steel.

“Tata will issue an offer document very soon. Alongside that, the UK Government know - I’ve known for a while - that we’re also going to have to offer support to clinch that buyer and give that steel plant a long-term, viable future,” he told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show.