EU Wrecking Our Smelting Of Aluminium - As Well?

From: Mike Hookem, regional chairman, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, UK Independence Party. (Yorks Post.)
THE demise of British industry continues at pace under the coalition Government, emulating the destruction inflicted by the last Labour administration.

In the next few weeks the latest casualty of Government neglect will close with the loss of 323 jobs, and a supply chain of 3,500 jobs due to the closure of the Lynemouth aluminium smelter in Northumberland.

Owners Rio Tinto Alcan are suggesting that the UK’s high and increasing energy costs are to blame. The plant had a reputation for being environmentally friendly after pursuing efficiency and lower emissions.
The pursuit of green energy is driving the UK towards a museum status. In 2008, UK production of aluminium was worth £3bn annually and 20,000 jobs. Today two of our three smelters have closed. Still we can always import aluminium so what does it matter?
The UK is at crossroads now. We either pursue a sensible long-term energy policy promising a degree of security to industry, or we become an industrial basket case among developed countries.