The UK Government has taken unprecedented action to safeguard the future of British Steel, protect thousands of jobs, and ensure the continued operation of the blast furnaces at Scunthorpe.
On Monday, 14 April, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds travelled to Immingham to oversee the unloading and delivery of vital raw materials from the US to the steelworks. The shipment, paid for by the government, will keep the blast furnaces running for the coming weeks, with efforts underway to establish a steady pipeline of further supplies.
A second cargo ship carrying more coking coal and iron ore is now en route from Australia after a legal dispute with Chinese owners Jingye was resolved over the weekend. The raw materials have been procured using existing Department for Business and Trade (DBT) budgets.
In a landmark move, emergency legislation rushed through Parliament last Saturday gives the Government powers to direct British Steel’s board and workforce, guarantee their pay, and secure resources for continued operations. If necessary, the Government can now directly intervene in company operations to prevent disruption.
This decisive intervention was aimed at protecting 37,000 jobs across supply chains and ensuring the UK can build critical infrastructure as part of the government's wider Plan for Change. Business Secretary Reynolds also confirmed the appointments of Allan Bell as interim CEO and Lisa Coulson as interim Chief Commercial Officer, to stabilise operations and provide essential leadership.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared, “Today, my government has stepped in to save British Steel. We are acting to protect the jobs of thousands of workers, and all options are on the table to secure the future of the industry. Delivering security and renewal for working people is at the heart of my Plan for Change.”
He added, “This government is turning the page on a decade of decline, where our manufacturing heartlands were hollowed out by the previous government.
“In recent weeks alone, we have announced the expansion of Heathrow airport and the building of the biggest theme park in Europe in Bedford. We are reforming our planning rules to build 1.5 million homes, and the infrastructure the nation desperately needs. New roads, railways, schools, hospitals, grids and reservoirs. British steel will be the backbone as we get Britain building once more.”
Earlier in the week, hundreds of workers and their families gathered at Scunthorpe United’s stadium in a show of solidarity, chanting “We want our steel back.” Speaking to workers on site, Starmer praised their resilience and pledged continued support stating, “Our industry is the pride of our history – and I want it to be our future too.”
Reynolds echoed the sentiment, stating, “We will always act in the interest of working people and UK industry. Thanks to the work of those at British Steel, and in my department, we have moved decisively to secure the raw materials we need to help save British Steel.”
He added, “Our industries depend on UK steel and – thanks to our Plan for Change – demand is set to shoot up: helping build the 1.5 million homes, railways, schools and hospitals we need to usher in a decade of national renewal.”
This intervention follows a tense standoff with Jingye. Reynolds told MPs that nationalisation of the Scunthorpe plant is now the most likely outcome, after Jingye threatened to shut down both blast furnaces, risking the end of primary steel production in Britain.
