Sunday Sun reported that new Redcar MP Mr Ian Swales has promised that he and the new government will do everything possible to reopen the Corus steel works.

As per report, Mr Swales has already held discussions with Corus and Middlesbrough Mayor Mr Ray Mallon to find a way forward to bring hope to an area hit by widespread job losses and a feeling of being ignored by the previous Government.

He is also set to meet a senior executive from TATA, the parent company of Corus, in the coming days to press the case for Redcar. He is pushing for the site to be sold to restart steel production or turned over to new uses.

According to Mr Swales, the developments come after the general election produced a Liberal Conservative Government, with senior Lib Democrats joining the Cabinet and becoming ministers. And both Deputy Prime Minister Mr Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Mr Vince Cable are aware of the issues in Redcar.

He said that "I am obviously getting my feet under the right tables. I have been talking to Corus management and the Mayor of Middlesbrough, Mr Ray Mallon, who is close to the situation. The main objective is to get close to Corus and its parent company Tata to see what is going on. We need to see if they are willing to sell to the right buyers and get steel production going again. And if the right buyers are not around, we need to make the site available for other businesses as quickly as possible."

Mr Swales added that the new Business Secretary had visited the area two and a half weeks ago. He said that "He is already committed to come back to the area very soon. He is personally interested and committed to do what he can to resolve the situation. We are where we are. Corus has a commercial problem and until we get to know what solutions are around, we don't really know what is being expected of the new government at the moment."

(Sourced from www.sundaysun.co.uk)