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| Steel industry 'crisis' rally attracts hundreds | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Steelworkers from all over the country are demonstrating in Sheffield over cuts to Britain's ailing steel industry. | Steelworkers from all over the country are demonstrating in Sheffield over cuts to Britain's ailing steel industry. |
| Thousands of job cuts have recently been announced in Teesside, Scunthorpe and Lanarkshire, with unions fearing more to come. | Thousands of job cuts have recently been announced in Teesside, Scunthorpe and Lanarkshire, with unions fearing more to come. |
| The TUC-organised rally is urging the government to stem the influx of cheap steel from China. | The TUC-organised rally is urging the government to stem the influx of cheap steel from China. |
| Business Minister Anna Soubry said her department was doing all it could. | Business Minister Anna Soubry said her department was doing all it could. |
| TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The crisis in British steel isn't over. One in six steelworkers face losing their jobs. | TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The crisis in British steel isn't over. One in six steelworkers face losing their jobs. |
| "Britain desperately needs a long-term industrial plan, but ministers have refused to commit to one. | "Britain desperately needs a long-term industrial plan, but ministers have refused to commit to one. |
| "The closure of factories will devastate surrounding communities, and cause jobs losses throughout the supply chain. The chancellor's 'Northern Powerhouse' has to be more than a slogan for a party conference." | "The closure of factories will devastate surrounding communities, and cause jobs losses throughout the supply chain. The chancellor's 'Northern Powerhouse' has to be more than a slogan for a party conference." |
| At the scene - Len Tingle, BBC Look North | |
| The banners on the streets of Sheffield told the story as the march snaked through busy streets towards the city hall. | |
| Angry steelworkers and their families have come from as far afield as Scotland, Wales, Teeside and Scunthorpe to add their voices to those from South Yorkshire. | |
| They feel the government is standing aside as their their once mighty industry rapidly heads towards meltdown. | |
| They blame Chinese dumping of steel on European markets for plummeting prices and high energy costs for making the UK industry uncompetitive. | |
| The result has been the heartbreak hitting thousands of families as the consequent economic squeeze has led to the forced loss of plants and jobs in recent weeks. | |
| And unions warn there is more to come unless action is taken now. | |
| The Save Our Steel march is in part a protest over last month's announcement by Tata Steel that it is cutting 1,200 jobs at plants in Scunthorpe, Motherwell and Cambuslang. | |
| Ms Soubry said: "The government is well aware of the challenges facing our steel industry and we are working tirelessly to help. | Ms Soubry said: "The government is well aware of the challenges facing our steel industry and we are working tirelessly to help. |
| "It was the UK that helped persuade the European Commission to launch an investigation into steel rebar imports and the UK that secured an emergency EU council meeting this month. | "It was the UK that helped persuade the European Commission to launch an investigation into steel rebar imports and the UK that secured an emergency EU council meeting this month. |
| "We will continue to do all we can to achieve a level playing field for our steel industry and workers." | "We will continue to do all we can to achieve a level playing field for our steel industry and workers." |