WORKERS from Britain’s car and aviation industries will rally outside Parliament tomorrow to urge the Prime Minister to save their jobs by extending the furlough scheme. 

The SOS for Jobs rally in central London, organised by Unite, is asking ministers “not to abandon” workers who have helped to build the country. 

Without an extension to the job-retention scheme, which ends on November 1, a “tide of job losses” will hit the manufacturing sector, the union fears. 

Workers are also concerned that support offered to manufacturing bases in countries such as France, Spain, Germany and the US will leave British industry unable to compete in the future. 

These fears were echoed by manufacturing organisation Make UK earlier this week, which claimed Britain will be left in the “slow lane” behind competitors if support is not given to the sector. 

A survey by the group found that more than two fifths of companies said they had already cut jobs while a third revealed they intend to in the next six months.

The government has so far ignored calls to extend the scheme, with PM Boris Johnson insisting last week that “indefinite furlough” was not the answer to tackling the country’s economic crisis. 

Ahead of the protest, Unite assistant general secretary for manufacturing Steve Turner said the event will be a “heartfelt plea” from workers who’ve helped Britain become a “great manufacturing nation.” 

"UK manufacturing is vital to our economic recovery,” he said. “It will power the jobs of tomorrow and keep communities strong in those parts of the country that the PM has pledged to ‘level up’.  

“But without urgent action by the PM, these communities will suffer terribly as the gates close on the businesses that sit at their heart.”

“The PM and his government cannot abandon these workers to this fate.”

Labour warned yesterday that the government’s refusal to back down on a blanket withdrawal of the job-retention scheme could threaten the future of British pubs. 

Research by the party found that 5,500 pubs and bars have closed in Britain since the Tories entered government in 2010, which amounts to one every 14 hours.

Labour warned that if furlough isn’t extended, the country’s nightlife and high street will face further closures. 

Shadow minister for business and consumers Lucy Powell called yesterday for furlough to be extended for “hard-hit sectors” and struggling businesses offered grants as part of a hospitality and high-street fund. 

She said: “Pubs are a vital part of our high streets and social fabric in communities up and down the country. 

“They have been hard hit by the pandemic, and Tory indifference and incompetence over many years means that many have gone to the wall.”

Unite national officer for the hospitality sector Dave Turnbull said: “We have already witnessed most high-street restaurant chains closing restaurants and shedding jobs.

"There have also been very heavy job losses in the hotel sector.

“Without the necessary support from government, it is likely that pub chains will be the next group to announce large-scale job losses.”