First Minister Eluned Morgan has come under fire over the Labour 海角视频 Government鈥檚 decision to step in to save Scunthorpe steelworks after failing to do the same for primary steelmaking in Port Talbot.
However, Ms Morgan stressed the two steelworks were in different situations after 海角视频 ministers took control of the Chinese-owned British Steel site in Scunthorpe this month.
Giving a statement to the Senedd she said: 鈥淭he situation 鈥 was very different not only in terms of the global context but also 鈥 the relationship and intention of Tata Steel.鈥
Baroness Morgan rejected 鈥渘ever credible鈥 suggestions the Labour 海角视频 Government should have persuaded Tata to reopen a deal initially negotiated by Conservative ministers.
On calls to take control of the Port Talbot plant, the first minister said: 鈥淭hat would have been unrealistic and unworkable because of the opposition from Tata.鈥
Baroness Morgan added: 鈥淚t would have led to prolonged legal conflict with the company, to the possible accelerated shut down of the remaining blast furnace and Tata could have withdrawn its contribution of 拢700m to the construction of the electric arc furnace.鈥
The Labour politician said construction of the electric arc furnace would begin this summer, with green steel set to provide a more sustainable and brighter future.
But Darren Millar, whose request for the Senedd to be recalled from Easter recess to discuss the issue was rejected, questioned the differing approaches in Wales and England.
The leader of the Conservative Senedd group said: 鈥淧eople are upset, understandably, and furious about the fact there seems to be a completely different attitude towards Welsh steel.鈥
He claimed Labour MPs 鈥減romised the earth鈥 to steelworkers before last year鈥檚 general election only to U-turn on pledges which turned out to be 鈥渃omplete works of fiction鈥.
Criticising 鈥渨arm words鈥 and the Welsh Government鈥檚 鈥渨eak鈥 strategy, Mr Millar warned Wales could miss out on a fair share from a 拢2.5bn fund for the steel sector.
Baroness Morgan replied: 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe I鈥檓 getting lectures from the Tories, who had all the opportunities to step in 鈥 to do something constructive 鈥 and didn鈥檛.鈥
The first minister claimed Tory 海角视频 ministers would not pick up the phone to her predecessor, saying she has pressed Labour colleagues to ringfence part of the 拢2.5bn fund for Wales.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth criticised the first minister for 鈥渕ocking鈥 his party鈥檚 calls for nationalisation of the Port Talbot steelworks.
鈥淎 pipedream she called it patronisingly, which has become something of a trade for this first minister,鈥 he said, accusing Labour of blatant double standards at Wales鈥 expense.
Claiming Labour has abandoned workers, he told Senedd members: 鈥淎fter this betrayal, we need cast-iron assurances that the 海角视频 Government鈥檚 investment in Scunthorpe in no way compromises the promises made to Port Talbot.鈥
Baroness Morgan said: 鈥淚t always fascinates me that nationalists want to nationalise but they want England to pay 鈥 this week you want to nationalise steel, last week 鈥 Holyhead port.鈥
Labour鈥檚 Mike Hedges, a former steelworker, backed the First Minister: 鈥淭his is not a battle between Port Talbot and Scunthorpe even though some people are trying to make it such.鈥
Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds said: 鈥淭he 海角视频鈥檚 emergency action confirmed what many of us here in Wales had feared: that our workers are second-class citizens.鈥
Baroness Morgan, who met steelworkers in Port Talbot last week, pledged to 鈥渕ove heaven and earth鈥 to secure the future of Welsh steel through a 鈥渇air and just transition鈥.
