‘National scandal’

As it couldn’t get any worse for beleaguered steelworkers, today’s (January 22) Mirror front page reports that the government could be considering building new Royal Navy warships with cheap imported steel.

Coming hard on the heels of what can only be called a week of hell for steelworkers, Unite slammed the idea as a potential “national scandal”, and a further blow for an industry already devastated by closures and job losses.

As reported in UNITElive, the UK steel industry workforce faced one of its worst blows this week (January 18) as steel giant Tata announced the loss of just over 1,000 jobs, with 750 jobs set to go at the Port Talbot plant, 200 jobs in support functions and a further 100 jobs at steel mills in Trostre, Corby and Hartlepool.

These figures compounded the growing tally of job losses in steel that began last summer. Over the last six months alone, the steel sector has haemorrhaged more than 5,000 jobs.

To date the government has done little to protect the UK steel industry, steel jobs and communities.

So the revelations that David Cameron may ignore UK steel firms preferring to source steel from overseas make his pledge to “buy British” when it comes to major public projects look hollow and yet another promise broken to the workers that need positive action now.

Unions were angered after defence minister Philip Dunne let slip that steel for the Type 26 frigate fleet could be supplied from sources abroad, involving multi-billion pound contracts.

In so doing the government would be actively denying UK foundries the sort of vital cash that could secure their futures and the futures of our steel communities.

‘Betrayal’

“It would be a national scandal if British steel wasn’t used to build the Navy’s new frigates and leave tens of thousands of steelworkers with a sense of betrayal,” said an outraged Tony Burke, Unite assistant general secretary for manufacturing.

Experts were also concerned, warning the industry would be plunged into a yet deeper crisis should the frigates be built with cheap imports.

Criticism also came from the Lib Dem leader Tim Farron MP who accused the Tories of “utter hypocrisy”.

“Despite the crisis, the government is not ­committing to supporting UK industry by building these ships with homemade steel,” Fallon said.

“This is a small ­announcement that would make a massive difference. They could say they would use British steel on British ships. They are not.”

In making the announcement that the government was looking to source steel from outside the UK, Philip Dunne said, “Steel is sourced by our contractors from a range of UK and ­international suppliers, reflecting the need to ensure a competitive price and delivery at the required time and quality.

“No suppliers have been selected or any orders placed for the Type 26 Global Combat Ships.”

The Type 26 frigates, which can each carry 185 sailors and sail for up to 7,800 miles without refueling, will be built on the Clyde in ­Scotland with work expected to begin this year.

The first is due to enter service in the early 2020s.

Deflected blame

But the Mirror has learned through a Freedom of Information request that the not so straightforward Tories tried to deflect blame for any future deals signed.

“As for all major defence equipment projects, it is the responsibility of our contractors … to buy the steel on the basis of cost, time and quality,” was the MoD’s response to the request.

And the Mirror, which is fully involved in the Save Our Steel campaign, can show that despite David Cameron’s vow to “buy British”, billions of pounds worth of steel business has gone to other countries.

It reports (January 22) “We revealed in October the Tories were spending tens of millions of pounds on Swedish steel for two defence projects worth almost £3.9bn.

“We also discovered a quarter of design and ­manufacture contracts for the ships have gone to foreign firms. British defence giant BAE Systems is awarding sub-contracts.

“But only six of the eight deals worth £187.4m have gone to UK companies. MoD ­officials also said just seven of 13 design development ­agreements had been struck with British firms.”

Devastated

All in all it adds up to a do-little government breaking its promises to the distraught and devastated steel workers of this country.

Commenting on what would happen if Dunne’s plan is enacted, Tony Burke said, “The warm words from ministers on using British steel in major government projects would turn to dust and be nothing more than empty rhetoric.

“Government ministers need to give cast iron guarantees that if it’s built for Britain it will be made using British steel.

“Thousands of steelworkers who face losing their livelihoods will be asking what’s the delay?

“If the government continues to delay decisions like these there won’t be any steel industry left in the UK.”

For more see the Unite film ‘Save our Steel’ and sign The Mirror’s petition at www.mirror.co.uk/steelpetition