BROMSGROVE MP and Business Secretary Sajid Javid flew into a storm when he landed on the other side of the world in Australia - as it emerged that the axe was poised over up to 40,000 steel jobs back home.

The government minister is now mid-air en route back from New South Wales to the UK's own South Wales, where 4,000 jobs are in jeopardy at Britain's biggest steelworks in Port Talbot, owned by Indian steel company Tata.

Mr Javid's press office at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills defended him against criticism for being so far away as Tata Steel announced that it was selling off its British assets, including the Port Talbot plant, putting at risk a total of 15,000 jobs directly and a further 25,000 down the supply chain if no buyer is found.

A spokesman said Mr Javid's role was to champion British business abroad and Australia was one of the country's greatest trade allies.

But, soon after he touched down in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Javid learned of the announcement by Tata and, 24 hours later, he took the decision to cut short his visit down under, which had been due to last until the weekend.

He managed to fit in a meeting with Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday and also spoke by telephone to Tata group chairman Cyrus Mistry (correct), as well as having a cross-government conference call with other British government ministers.

Mr Javid took off from Sydney in the early hours today and said: "I am deeply concerned about the situation.

"I think it is absolutely clear that the UK steel industry is absolutely vital for the country.

"We will look at all viable options to keep steelmaking continuing in Port Talbot.

"We also are very much alive to the human cost."

Mr Javid added that he did not think that nationalisation of the steelworks would be a solution but all viable options would be looked at.

"Right now it is too early to tell what options are exactly on the table, because we want to speak to potential buyers, but the good thing is that we have been in discussions with Tata for a number of weeks over a number of issues that they have faced," he said.

His ministry spokesman said he was sure that it had been "completely his decision" to cut short his Australian mission.

And, as soon as possible after arriving back in the UK, Mr Javid would travel to "show solidarity" with the people of Port Talbot, although he conceded the business secretary was bound to be "pretty jetlagged".

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has already been to Port Talbot after breaking off from his Easter holiday in Exmouth, has started a petition for David Cameron to recall parliament to discuss the steel crisis.