The video will start in 8 Cancel

What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy has pledged to use British steel in all Government contracts if she becomes Prime Minister.

Ms Nandy is bidding to win the support of various unions whose workers are employed by the UK’s fragile steel industry as she battles to claim the party reins.

Her decision to press the care for British steelworkers and their jobs is revealed in an exclusive article for the Mirror.

She writes: "The case for committing the next Labour government to putting UK manufacturing and domestic steel first, couldn’t be clearer.

"It will create the decent jobs across the whole of the UK we desperately need.

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

"It will revitalise our communities which have seen manufacturing jobs lost and communities destroyed.”

She adds: “I will use the power of purchasing to support the high skilled, well-paid jobs of today and create the jobs of the future because together we can rebuild Britain by building in Britain.”

The promise is a boost for the Mirror’s Save Our Steel campaign, launched in 2015 as the sector was hammered by plant closures and thousands of job losses

A Community steelworkers’ trade union spokesman said: “This week Community contacted all the leadership candidates to ask them what their plans are for the UK steel sector.

“The future of our industry should be part of the Labour leadership election debate, just as it should be central to any discussion about the future of our economy.

“Britain needs our steel and steelworkers want a level playing field to compete effectively in a global market.

“Whoever leads Labour should ensure the party speaks up for UK steel as a vital foundation industry.”