WITH a heritage spanning generations, it is easy to understand why North-East steelworkers feel so passionately about their industry.

It is also easy to understand why Corus employees feel so desperate about the perilous state in which the company finds itself.

Just a month ago, the company's Teesside operation reached a new production record, underlining again the world class reputation of the workforce.

And yesterday's show of strength, in protesting against the way Corus is being managed, was balanced by common sense measures to ensure that customers were not adversely affected.

Teesside desperately needs the 3,000 Corus jobs, as well as 7,000 ancillary jobs linked to steelmaking in the area. Towns like Redcar, hit so hard by previous cutbacks, simply cannot afford another blow.

We therefore fully support the case being made for steelmaking in Teesside. The workforce has tradition, passion and know-how on its side.

It is a question of harnessing those qualities in a business managed more effectively.

And under the chairmanship of Sir Brian Moffat, the company's track record is unimpressive to say the least.

More jaw-jaw

TONY Blair sounded a little exasperated in the Commons yesterday as, time and again, MPs pressed him on whether the US was about to turn its attention - and even its guns - on Syria.

He replied: ''If people continue to raise these issues it can only be because they are not listening to the very, very clear answer that is being given.

''We have absolutely no plans to invade Syria. I cannot put it any clearer that that. It is clear enough, I think, for most people.''

We hope it is clear, too, to the Americans.

The Americans, though, continue to up the pressure on the Syrians.

It is correct that the Syrians should not harbour members of Saddam's regime and they should not be building weapons of mass destruction.

But the best way to get the new, Anglophile president on our side is to continue Mr Blair's policy of talking to him - and that's the same with Iran where, again, Mr Blair's Government has made real diplomatic strides.

Bombing countries just because you don't like the look of them cannot be allowed to become common place.