Liberty Steel has not produced anything at two key plants since July 2024

Lack of work at Rotherham and Motherwell sites highlights financial crisis at UK’s third-biggest steel producer

Liberty Steel has produced nothing at two of its key UK plants since July, in a sign of the deep financial difficulties for Britain’s third-biggest steelmaker as it looks for rescue funding.

The plants at Rotherham in South Yorkshire and Motherwell in Scotland have not produced any steel for about nine months because of a lack of funds to buy vital materials, with staff on furlough on 85% of their salaries for the duration, according to workers who spoke to the Guardian.