Steelworkers in march to save jobs

The business secretary Sajid Javid and his European counterparts in Brussels had been urged to help stop the dumping of cheap Chinese steel, one of the issues blamed by companies which have announced thousands of job losses, including 900 at Tata Steel in the town, in recent weeks.

But Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of Community said the “weak conclusions” drawn at yesterday’s meeting would provide little comfort to those whose jobs were at risk. He said the summit “failed to give a proper view on the impact of China gaining market economy status, which will pose an existential threat to the European steel industry.”

He added: “What is clear due to the weak conclusions from today is that this must not deflect from the action that the UK government should be taking to support its steel producers.

“Steel needs short-term action but it also requires a clear commitment to its long-term future – from both government and employers in the industry.”

Workers from other steel closure areas in Yorkshire, Wales, Scotland and Teeside will join the march to the Civic Centre in the town, where a 5,000-name petition will be handed to the leader of the Labour Group on North Lincolnshire Council.

It calls on the council to reduce the £15.2 million a year rates bill for Tata Steel.

It comes following the suspected suicide of steel boss Angad Paul, 45, whose company Caparo Industries is on the brink of collapse. Mr Paul was pronounced dead after plunging from his penthouse flat in central London.

Caparo called in administrators last month and 450 redundancies have been announced so far.