Tata Steel UK circulates memo to staff on EU referendum

Tata Steel's Welsh unit has issued an internal memo to its staff laying out benefits of Britain's membership of the European Union ahead of next week's referendum.

The letter has asked staff at the Port Talbot plant - which is currently undergoing a sales process - to give "careful thought" to their decision because the June 23 referendum will make a big difference to the steel industry.

"The EU is by far our largest export market, with over a third of our UK steel heading there access to that market is fundamental to our business," Tim Morris, Head of Public Affairs for Tata Steel in Europe, said in the internal document dated June 10 and published on Thursday by the 'Daily Telegraph' .

While stopping short of directly asking its workforce to vote either way, Tata's memo, said "the relationship between the UK and the EU is very relevant for the company.”