LABOUR has blamed a decade of Tory indifference towards the steel industry for plummeting production, as fears over the future of Liberty Steel continued.

The firm’s owner Sanjeev Gupta insisted yesterday that none of Liberty’s plants would be shut under his watch as bosses sought to urgently refinance its operations following the collapse of financial backer Greensill Capital. 

The Tories have previously rejected an appeal by Liberty’s parent company, GFG Alliance, for a £170 million bailout.