OSBORNE DEFENDS GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS OVER THE STEEL CRISIS

The English chancellor George Osborne has defended the Government's actions over the mounting steel crisis as the Business Secretary, Sajid Javid, prepares to meet workers at the Port Talbot plant.

The Government has come under fire over its response to the decision by Tata Steel to sell off its UK assets.

The move has put up to 40,000 jobs at risk.

But Mr Osborne has insisted it is doing everything "practicable and possible" to allow tougher tariffs on cheap steel.

Responding to accusations that import taxes were being blocked, Mr Osborne said Britain was working with other countries to make sure tariffs were in place on imports of unfairly cheap steel from countries such as China.