I'll re-industrialise Wales and restart the steel blast furnaces says Farage

NIGEL Farage has said his party wants to restart Port Talbot's blast furnaces and “re-industrialise Wales”.

- By GEORGE THOMPSON, ALAN JONES and NINA LLOYD

On a visit to South Wales, the leader of Reform UK said the resumption of traditional steelmaking and coal production is the party's long-term ambition if it comes to power.

The speech came one year ahead of the Senedd elections in May next year, where the party is looking to end Labour's 26 years of domination.

Addressing reporters, Mr Farage acknowledged that plans to open a traditional furnace could take years and cost “in the low billions”.

The GMB Union has branded the plans “more lies from an opportunistic chancer”.

Port Talbot's remaining blast furnaces were shut down in September, with a new electric arc furnace being built in their place.

Tata Steel, the owner of the plant, said the closure of the furnaces was necessary, with the steelworks losing £1m a day.

“Our ambition is to re-industrialise Wales,” Mr Farage said.

“We are going to be using more steel over the next few years than we have probably ever used.

“As we increase military spending and as we attempt a house building programme in Wales, and even more so in England, of massive proportions, just to catch up with the population explosion over the last 20 years, we are going to need a lot of steel.”

The Reform leader said “specific types of coal” are needed in the UK, particularly for a new blast furnace.

“I'm not saying let’s open all of the pits,” he said.