Metalworkers march past Parliament asking for help to save 'crisis' industry
Hundreds of steelworkers marched through Westminster today to implore ministers to save their jobs.
Business leaders and experts fear the sector will be doomed unless the government cuts energy costs and helps it shift to greener production.
Richard Holmes, 39, who has worked at the Marcegaglia factory in Sheffield for 15 years, said: "It's an industry in decline. Where I live and work it's been built on steel communities and it is slowly eroding.
"It's a really crucial time, we may not have a steel industry in the next few years - and that's the backbone of a good economy.
"This is a worrying time, which is why we are all here today."
Union leaders joined around 250 workers wearing fluorescent hi-vis jackets and hard hats, waving flags and holding signs at a rally in Trafalgar Square.
Picture:
Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror)Picture:
Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror)Others wore black t-shirts with the slogan 'UK steel emergency' while placards read: 'Britain - we need our steel now'; “Save it or lose it”; and "Offshoring emissions is not a green steel plan".
Protesters marched through Whitehall chanting 'Save our steel!' while cars honked.
A motorist driving a gold Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow honked and gave a thumbs up as well-wishers along the road supported the steelworkers' fight.
A woman at a bus stop told them, "We're on your side" while workers renovating a building shouted, "Go ahead guys!"
The motorcade stopped briefly opposite Downing Street where Rishi Sunak was at No 10 preparing for Prime Minister's Questions.
Arriving in Parliament Square, workers demanded investment to protect industry so Britain is not left at the mercy of foreign regimes and foreign polluting companies to buy steel .
Hundreds of steelworkers marched through Westminster today to implore ministers to save their jobs.
Business leaders and experts fear the sector will be doomed unless the government cuts energy costs and helps it shift to greener production.
Richard Holmes, 39, who has worked at the Marcegaglia factory in Sheffield for 15 years, said: "It's an industry in decline. Where I live and work it's been built on steel communities and it is slowly eroding.
"It's a really crucial time, we may not have a steel industry in the next few years - and that's the backbone of a good economy.
"This is a worrying time, which is why we are all here today."
Union leaders joined around 250 workers wearing fluorescent hi-vis jackets and hard hats, waving flags and holding signs at a rally in Trafalgar Square.
Picture:
Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror)Picture:
Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror)Others wore black t-shirts with the slogan 'UK steel emergency' while placards read: 'Britain - we need our steel now'; “Save it or lose it”; and "Offshoring emissions is not a green steel plan".
Protesters marched through Whitehall chanting 'Save our steel!' while cars honked.
A motorist driving a gold Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow honked and gave a thumbs up as well-wishers along the road supported the steelworkers' fight.
A woman at a bus stop told them, "We're on your side" while workers renovating a building shouted, "Go ahead guys!"
The motorcade stopped briefly opposite Downing Street where Rishi Sunak was at No 10 preparing for Prime Minister's Questions.
Arriving in Parliament Square, workers demanded investment to protect industry so Britain is not left at the mercy of foreign regimes and foreign polluting companies to buy steel .
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