'It's time our politicians stepped up' on steel

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham marched with Unite steel members this week (June 27) in Westminster to warn MPs and ministers that the time for talking is over and immediate action is required by the government to secure the long-term future of the UK’s steel industry.

From hospitals to defence, Unite has said it is clear that UK steel is a critical infrastructure industry and steel must be produced in the UK.

Speaking at the demo, Sharon Graham said, “We stand on the very precipice for Britain’s steel industry. It’s time our politicians stepped up to the plate and took action to save our most vital of industries; how can it be that Belgium produces more steel than Britain? There has been criminal negligence in flogging off the industry in a privatisation that has proved calamitous; a private equity scam that didn’t work.

“Every British major infrastructure project should be legally committed to using British steel on their projects,” Graham went on to say. “Unite research suggests if that one thing was done today it would guarantee an increase in steel production worth £8bn and create 3000 jobs. A no brainer. British Steel made by British workers for British infrastructure projects.”

You can see highlights from the demo in the photo gallery below:

Photos by Mark Thomas