Hartlepool steel workers march on Parliament Square

Steelworkers from across Hartlepool are making their way from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square this morning (June 28) to call on Government to agree on an investment plan for the sector.

Figures released by GMB Union show almost 18,000 North East steel jobs have gone in the period between 1981 and 2021.

Andrew Blunt, GMB regional organiser, said Government need to "get to the table" with the union and work out how to "save the industry."

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He said: "It needs investment from this Government, they've been in power for 13 years and [the] steel industry's struggling with rising energy costs.

"We need to invest in British steel for the future to save it. For British infrastructure rather than relying on cheap imports.

"These are people's livelihoods, we need to continue to support them.

"They need to get to the table and work out how they are going to save the industry, through investment or subsidies in the industry, rather than let it collapse and further jobs be lost."

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The union said a total of 17,950 steel jobs have gone from the region, comprising 79 per cent of the entire sector.

Mr Blunt said the support for the march has been "massive" and shows how much preserving the steel industry for future generations means to the workers.

Andy Jenkins, a Hartlepool steelworker at the protest, said: "I've come on to the rally trying to secure the steel industry, trying to get the Government to give us jobs, at the moment, the steel industry is in a massive crisis.

"It's an ageing workforce, nothing seems to be going right. Hopefully, demonstrating can help out a bit.

"Secure jobs for the future, more work for the younger generation, that's the reason I'm really down here.

He criticised the use and quality of imported steel, and labelled the steel used "cheap" and "shoddy."

The remaining Hartlepool steelwork jobs include those for firms British Steel, the Materials Processing Institute (MPI), and Liberty Steel.

Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "I am proud that under consecutive Conservative governments, we have always stood up to ensure that, whenever there is a viable route to retain vital steel-making capacity, we have taken it.

"In 2019, Labour expected us to fail to support British Steel but, instead, the government provided a massive indemnity to allow the company to continue trading while a new buyer was found.

"This directly saved every job at the Special Profiles Division at Skinningrove and I remain very proud of this success.

"Likewise, in 2021 under Boris Johnson, we extended critical steel tariffs to protect our industry from unfair competition.

"I know I speak for all Conservative Tees Valley MPs when I say that for as long as we represent our region, we will always stand up for the industry that ultimately defines Teesside both at home and across the world."

Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB National Officer, said: “Under this Government’s watch, the North East’s proud steel industry is being allowed to wither and die.

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“Almost 18,000 jobs have gone – close to 80 per cent of the entire steel workforce. 

“A lack of industrial strategy and no support for crippling energy costs have left the industry at risk of ‘steel dumping’ from overseas. 

“We need action now, or the industry as we know it will cease to exist.”