Sirius Minerals takeover: Here's the outcome of the meeting between Anglo American and MP Robert Goodwill

During talks with Mark Cutifani, the Chief Executive of the company set to take over Sirius Minerals, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby suggested Sirius' shareholders be given the option to keep their shares in the market as opposed to receive pay-outs.

Mr Goodwill said yesterday that doing so would not be unusual but admitted he didn't know how Anglo American would respond.

Speaking after the meeting in Parliament today, Mr Goodwill said: "[Anglo American] said that's something they haven't really made a decision on, it seems to me that that would not be the way forward."

However, talks over the future of Sirius' headquarters, an issue that the MP was keen to flag up, had a more positive outcome.

Mr Goodwill added: "What they did say was how much they're looking forward to using the headquarters. Most of their staff are currently in central London in very expensive office spaces so I got reassurances that they're keeping the existing team in place and keeping the offices."

Mr Goodwill also revealed that representatives from Anglo American were in North Yorkshire yesterday and were "impressed by the work done by Sirius".

The global mining firm has offered to purchase Sirius Minerals for 5.5p per share, a fraction of what they were worth in August 2016 when they peaked at 45p.

The offer is the only option on the table and Sirius' board of directors has urged shareholders to vote for it.