Yorkshire Post reported that parliamentarians have accused the UK government of sacrificing steel workers' jobs in South Yorkshire while protecting rich and greed soaked city bankers.
Mr Denis MacShane MP of Rotherham condemned the decision to offer the struggling Corus steel firm a paltry GBP 5 million to help and said that Labour could be kicked out of power if it failed to help the industry.
He also questioned whether Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown was adhering to his promise not to repeat mistakes from previous recessions. He said that the government was on tramlines that have not altered for the last 25 years in believing any job reduction is good and anything that a company wants to do have to be accepted and the government is powerless.
As communities in Rotherham, Sheffield and Scunthorpe are reeling from last month's announcement of another 2,000 job cuts, a host of MPs made the case for extra government support in a debate in Parliament.
Mr MacShane said that ministers should not underestimate the injustice felt by workers and communities across South Yorkshire who saw billions spent on propping up the banks and then learnt of the huge pay packet agreed for Mr Stephen Hester CEO of Royal Bank of Scotland which is now majority. He added that "The paltry sum of GBP 5 million for thousands of steelworkers contrasts sadly with the new wages of GBP 9 million announced for the new boss of the Royal Bank of Scotland, even though this bank is under Government supervision."
Sheffield MPs Ms Angela Smith and Mr Richard Caborn, Scunthorpe's Mr Elliot Morley and Mr Brigg and Goole's Mr Ian Cawsey were also in attendance for the debate. Mr Caborn said that "If we allow this workforce to be broken apart it will be very difficult to come back, and we will pay not just a human price but an economic price."
Ms Winterton, MP for Doncaster North, said that the government was focused on the issue and said job losses were absolutely tragic of course for individuals, families and communities. She said that the government had already met some of Corus' requests and said it was now discussing with the company how the GBP 5 million could best be used.
(Sourced from www.yorkshirepost.co.uk)
