Tata Steel rejects union plan to save jobs and keep Port Talbot furnace open

Rejection of plan to keep one blast furnace open while building electric replacement ends hopes of avoiding as many as 2,800 job losses

Tata Steel has rejected a plan by unions to keep open a blast furnace at the Port Talbot steelworks, ending any hopes of avoiding as many as 2,800 job losses.

Unions met the company in London on Thursday with another plea not to press ahead with its proposals which will likely end the ability to make steel from iron ore in south Wales by September and cause thousands of job losses.