More industries may need British Steel-style rescues launched due to soaring electricity prices, the government has been warned.
Unions and manufacturing leaders have joined forced to call on the government to act bring down prices before more firms go the way of British Steel and need to be rescued.
The Times reports the Trades Union Congress and manufacturing trade body Make UK have written to the chancellor cautioning UK industries that require a lot of energy are being put at a "competitive disadvantage" compared to foreign rivals.
In a joint letter to Rachel Reeves, they said: “The government has committed to ensuring Britain is open for business and pulling down barriers to investment.
“If it is serious about this, the government should publish a plan for delivering industrial electricity prices that are competitive with our peers in Europe.”
They warned continued higher prices in the UK would risk jobs and restrict growth.
Trade association UK Steel estimated steel manufacturers in the UK would pay an average of £65.97 per megawatt-hour this year, compared to £49.50 and £43.49 in Germany and France.