Mike Hookem MEP Speaks Out.

Wednesday 28th October 2015 UKIP Defence Spokesman – “Steel that beat Hitler no longer good enough for our armed forces”   Mike Hookem MEP slams defence chiefs, the government and the EU over Swedish steel for UK military ships and vehicles UKIP defence spokesman, Mike Hookem MEP has slammed defence chiefs, the government and the EU for allowing foreign steel to be used to build new ships and vehicles for the British armed forces, saying; “British steel production was ‘key’ to beating Hitler, but it seems it’s no longer good enough for our armed forces.” Mr Hookem’s comments come after it emerged three new Royal Navy ships and five hundred and eighty nine new army vehicles will be built using “specialist’ Swedish steel, despite 5,000 jobs being lost in the UK steel industry this month. Former soldier, Mr Hookem said, “It seems utterly ridiculous to me that at a time when British steel workers are being made redundant, defence chiefs and the government can allow imported steel to be used to build new vehicles and ships for our armed forces.” “I understand that EU competition rules ban the government from specifying where the steel is procured from, but it’s time the government grew a pair of balls, showed some of the grit that saw the UK through two world wars and told the EU to get lost!” “The simple fact is these contracts should be used to help British steel producers in these tough times and I’m positive the men and women of our armed forces would appreciate using vehicles and ships produced from British steel.” “This row is yet another example of how EU rules undermine and ultimately destroys British industry. The fact is the UK is quickly moving to a purely service economy that will no longer allow us to challenge as a major power on the world stage. For me, this is the EU’s ultimate goal as is will mean we are reliant on other EU nations for everything from electricity production to steel.”