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A Tory grandee is facing fury after telling sacked steelworkers it was a “good time” to be made redundant.

Former Deputy PM Lord Heseltine, who advises George Osborne on business policy, said the jobs situation in Britain is “exciting”.

More than 5,000 steelworkers have been axed in the past month as the Tory Government allows the once-proud steel industry to collapse.

“If you are going to lose your job, this is probably as good a time,” millionaire Lord Heseltine told Sky News.

“The number of new jobs in the economy today is one of the most exciting features of this economy.”

(Image: Getty)

Sacked SSI steelworkers in Redcar erupted with fury at the heartless comments.

Dougie Arbon, 64, an inspector at SSI, added: “I don’t know where Heseltine gets that idea from - this area is devastated. He needs a boot up his backside.”

Mike Gilbert, who worked at the plant for 31 years and is now being forced to sell his house, said: “I think the remarks made by Mr Heseltine are disgraceful, but they do not really surprise me.”

“The Tories’ reaction has been a joke.”

Carl Harris, who also lost his job at SSI, warned an entire community is suffering.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

“I spoke with my window cleaner, and he told me ten people had cancelled on his round,” said Carl, 40.

“It hits everyone, all the people in the supply chain, and beyond.

“For Lord Heseltine to say that just shows out of touch the Tories are with real people.”

Labour yesterday called for parts of the British steel industry to be nationalised as further job losses loom.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said the UK Government should follow Italy’s lead and take temporary control of major steel plants which face closure.

“There are areas in which governments need to intervene,” Mr McDonnell said.

Steelworks across Europe are in crisis due to an influx of cheap Chinese steel which has caused prices to halve.

While the Tory Government allowed the SSI plant in Redcar to close, the centre-Left Italian Government stepped in to temporarily nationalise the Ilva steel plant in Taranto last December when 14,000 jobs were at risk.

(Image: Ian Forsyth)

Speaking on the BBC’s Marr Show yesterday, Mr McDonnell said the move should be followed by political leaders in Britain.

“In Italy, the Government intervened – they took over, they actually invested, and they’ve turned the situation around,” the Shadow Chancellor said.

“They didn’t wait for Europe to tell them whether they could or not; they actually did it and then actually it proved to be a success.”

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At the weekend hundreds of protesters marched through the night in Redcar in a torch-lit vigil for the thousands of workers left high and dry by the Tory Government.

Organiser Craig Hornby said: “It’s for all those who have lost their jobs and to say though the light has gone out at the furnace, the lights haven’t gone out across the community.”

Tom Blenkinsop, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, added: “It’s another way of allowing people to grieve.

(Image: Evening Gazette)

“Losing the steel industry in the area is like a death in a family.”

This week steel industry bosses will hold crisis talks with Mr Osborne as pressure mounts on the chancellor to act .

Terry Scuoler, the boss of manufacturers’ organisation EEF, will meet the Chancellor to demand more Government support.

Steel Petition

Dear David Cameron

We want urgent action to save the steel industry and prevent the loss of thousands of jobs.

It is time to cut business rates and energy bills for steel plants, block cheap Chinese exports and get UK firms to buy British-made steel.

Sign up here: www.mirror.co.uk/steelpetition