Andy Burnham calls National Economic Council summit with UK nations

The National Economic Council was created by Gordon Brown’s UK government in the wake of the 2008 banking crash, and has now been revived by Burnham.

A previous meeting brought together government ministers and English local authority mayors.

Plaid ministers also want reform of the formula known as Barnett that decides how much money is sent from Westminster to the Welsh government, providing the vast majority of its funding.

Burnham previously backed the argument that Barnett does not fairly reflect Wales’ needs, and said in Port Talbot he was “well aware of the concerns”.

But he added: “I have to be honest and say – there’s only so many things I can do in the time that I’ve got.

“At the moment I can’t promise there will be moves to review that.”

Some workers at Tata’s Llanwern plant, around 50 miles east on the M4, have been put on lighter duties with unions blaming competition from cheap steel imports.

It follows a decision by UK ministers to raise the quotas limits on countries including South Korea, India, and Vietnam.

“The quotas that we’ve that we’ve set need to be kept under under review,” said Burnham.

“The steel sector is in flux around the world, and it’s moving fast, and things are changing.

“And what we have got to do is to support the British steel industry as best we can through that. But recognizing that we also got to support the wider the wider economy and find the right point of balance on these on these issues.”

Tata Port Talbot is in the process of being converted to greener steel production, and building a new electric arc furnace.

“This transition is hugely difficult, and it can’t be done unless the UK government stands right behind the people here,” said the prime minister.

“Finally, we’re doing something right here, which is industrial transition, trying to go from one era into a new one.

If we pull this off, Wales could have the first green steel production capacity in Europe, the biggest green steel production in the world.

“What a prize that is for Wales!”

Earlier, the Welsh government said: “We look forward to discussing shared challenges, including ensuring growth and investment in all the countries represented, and support for families facing the continuing cost-of-living crisis.

“This is alongside further discussions with the UK government to progress broader priorities in Wales, including fair funding and extending devolution.”nt in Cardiff.

Ap Iorwerth had his first meeting with the new prime minister on the sidelines of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick said Wales “needs action” if the prime minister is serious about “easing the burden on Welsh families”.

Reform UK’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas said ahead of the visit that Burnham “may well be the last Labour prime minister to come to Wales”.

“We have no doubt that when the prime minister finally calls a general election and stops running scared, it will be the end of the line for Labour here in Wales,” he said.