STEELWORKERS have condemned the government’s “unforgivable” lack of support for the British steel industry.

Delegates meeting at the GMB’s Brighton conference criticised the government for its projects, in which only 48 per cent of steel used is British-produced.

A motion said that this “failure” to support the British steel industry was “unforgivable.”

It added that calls for the Tories to support British industry are a “waste,” and called on the next Labour government to support British industry.

The motion comes as the government failed to intervene to save British Steel, which went into administration last week.

Steelworkers’ delegate Ian Kemp said: “Yet again, the patriotic, Union Jack-waving Tories have stuck two fingers up at British industry.

“This government has betrayed British workers.

“Just when I think the Tories couldn’t get any lower, hours after pledging support for the British Steel industry, they allow British Steel to go into administration.

“We need a Labour government committed to the British steel industry and manufacturing.”