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Thousands of steelworkers descended on Whitehall as their futures were being decided thousands of miles away.

Wearing their hard hats and Tata Steel hi-vis safety jackets, they marched past the Houses of Parliament shouting “Save Our Steel”.

They were joined by Jeremy Corbyn and a host of senior Labour figures including Andy Burnham, Dennis Skinner and Stephen Kinnock, MP for Port Talbot.

Many had set off before dawn on coaches from Port Talbot, Newport, Hartlepool, Rotherham and North Wales to plead with the Government not to forget them.

(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)

While negotiations for a potential takeover of Tata’s British interests continued in Mumbai, around 2,000 worried employees drowned out the dithering emanating from Downing Street since the steel crisis erupted earlier this year.

Speaking after the rally, David Neilly, 48, from Port Talbot, said: “The right deal will take Britain forwards. If this is done badly and the steel industry shrinks that will mean this Government does not care about keeping manufacturing and keeping a balance in our economy.”

Read more:Save our Steel

Simon Burchell, also from the South Wales steel town, added: “We are a lot more confident than we were last week. The important thing is that they don’t just get a buyer but that they get the right buyer who will provide us with some security.

“Some of the guys have already started looking for new jobs, and we can understand that.”

(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)

Chris James, another of the 4,000 employees in Port Talbot, said the march was vital after the deadline for buy-out bids passed on Monday.

Mike Clark, 55, from Tata’s plant in Shotton, North Wales, said: “A group of 28 of us came down today in the hope the Government will keep to its promises.

“They are saying a lot of reassuring words but they need to deliver on those words. We supply steel for huge construction projects like football stadiums, and if we go Britain will have to import that steel at a huge cost.”

(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)

Unite leader Len McCluskey was at the vanguard of the march, joining the chorus of voices demanding a decent outcome for the steelworkers.

“The purpose of today’s march was to make certain that we keep the steel industry high on the agenda,” he said.

“The deal is not done. We need the warm words that we've had turned into guarantees now. There is a confident mood after the Government changed their view about giving support for the sector.

(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)

“I think initially there was a negative shrug of the shoulder approach from the Conservatives, but they have recognised the mood. The Mirror’s Save Our Steel campaign has been fabulous.”

Labour Party leader Mr Corbyn said: "This industry is strong. The communities are strong. The workers are incredibly skilled. They have built everything there is in this country: every road, every railway, every new building is because of steelworkers and the steel industry.

“They must not be sent down the road. The industry must not be destroyed, and we will make sure it is not destroyed.”