"Are these people going to be thrown on the scrapheap or is the British Government going to intervene, and maintain steel making in Britain- it's that simple" 

I have recently been reading the unauthorised biography of our prime minister, Call me Dave, written by former Tory party donor Michael Ashcroft and former Sunday Times political editor Isabel Oakeshott. Apart from the well-publicised sticking his willy in a pigs mouth, the book features a great deal on Cameron’s Enid Blightonesque childhood; long summer days by the pool drinking homemade lemonade by the swimming pool with his hooray henry chums. His fabulously well to do parents, busy doing their bit for the local charities and have afternoon cake and tea with the countryside’s elite. Despite suggestions that the book was revenge for Ashcroft not getting a cabinet role from his former friend Cameron, it’s not a complete hatchet job. It hints strongly that several of the most powerful men and women in the country once had a fondness for illegal substances but is rather sympathetic when describing the heart breaking loss of his son, Ivan in 2009. Ashcroft’s description of the numerous late night visits to hospital with his severely disabled son while trying desperately to maintain his grip on leading the party paints a picture of a dedicated father and husband who cares deeply and is eternally grateful to the NHS.

The book talks about Cameron’s brave decision making on tackling drugs following a close family members’ battle with addiction. Indeed, the work tome leaves the reader in little doubt that Dave does care deeply about the things he has been effected by personally. The experiences he has had in his oh so privileged life have certainly left a lasting mark on the man.

The problem with Dave leading our country of course is that the things he hasn’t experienced. He probably has never known anyone personally who has depended on benefits. Nor has he known anyone struggling to find a home, relying on social housing to put a roof over their hungry heads. He probably has never lived next door to someone employed in the steel works.

When he says his government is doing “everything it can” to save thousands of jobs does he really have the same conviction as when he talks of things close to his own heart?

Tata steel who employ around 15,000 people (and supports hundreds more in local communities) announced this week that it intends to sell the business, claiming it is losing up to £1m per day. What really sticks in the throat of people in this country is Cameron’s government’s lack of action. There has been a shadow hanging over these jobs since January when plans to shed jobs was announced, while the Tories have failed repeatedly to take any meaningful action to help the thousands facing joblessness. The company blamed difficult market conditions with many commentators accusing the Chinese of producing cut price (and poor standard) steel, pricing British firms out of the market. The Chinese allow subsidised energy bills to their companies while our government refuse to do the same to support our companies as well as opposing an opportunity to add tariffs to Chinese imports.

Two days ago the Tata board met in Mumbai to try to find a plan to save the Port Talbot plant in Wales. Welsh Labour MP and son of former leader Neil Kinnock, Stephen Kinnock attended the meeting along with community trade union delegates to lobby the owners.

Not a single cabinet minister attended the all-day meeting with business secretary Sajid Javid instead flying to Australia with his daughter and the PM also holidaying.

Despite calls to nationalise the steel works Cameron insisted on his return to work that nationalisation was “not the right answer”.

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said “these are people who have given their lives to that industry. Are they to be thrown on the scrap heap of a multi-national corporation or is the British government going to intervene and maintain steel making in Britain?” adding “it’s a very simple choice”.

The Telegraph today accused the Government of sacrificing the steel industry to curry favour with the Chinese. Already under fire after his failed budget, Chancellor George Osbourne has been accused by unions of failing to understand the crisis. He said in his budget that “we’re going to permanently exempt our energy intensive industries like steel and chemicals from the cost of environmental tariffs so that we can keep their bills down, keep them competitive and keep them here” but unions are questioning whether the industry will survive long enough to benefit from the measures.

Tata have indicated that they might be open to a slightly longer timescale, which ITV correspondent Romilly Weeks said the Government are keen to take the credit for despite “incredibly” Tata saying “that they have had no contact, at this crucial juncture for the British steel industry, with any senior government minister today”.

The cost of losing the industry could cost hundreds of millions of pounds in environmental costs cleaning up the 3 mile site in Port Talbot along with the huge cost of the pension scheme relied upon by thousands of people.

I remember fondly going on holiday to Devon as a child and buying a souvenir pen knife with “Paignton” emblazoned on its case. I recall my pride even that age when I opened the blade to find Made in Sheffield etched into its shaft.

That industry along with that pride that those connected to it share and have given their lives to looks to be on the brink of extinction. While thousands of families face life on the dole, Tory politicians jet off on holiday and refuse to care about a world they simply do not know. They merrily give away an average of almost £3000 to some of the wealthiest in Britain (0.3% of the population) they dismiss hardworking families resigning many of them to the rest of their lives being unemployed.

With local elections just around the corner in May, let’s hope that those who stupidly voted Tory, will think again and vote for politicians that know what matters to the masses rather than the few.