Scunthorpe’s streets were filled with hundreds of people marching in unity with steelworkers, echoing their determination to keep the British Steel tradition alive in the town. As an extraordinary Saturday session of Parliament saw MPs and Lords debating an emergency legislation to regain control of British Steel, the people of Scunthorpe stood firm with their workforce. Approximately 300 individuals marched from the town centre to Scunthorpe United’s Attis Arena, holding banners and advocating to ‘Save Our Steel’ by maintaining operation of the blast furnaces. The future of these furnaces was hanging by a thread under the ownership of Jingye Group, prompting the government to intervene. By mid-afternoon, the House of Commons had passed the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill, which was then debated in the House of Lords. The legislation will empower the government to instruct British Steel to keep the Scunthorpe plant operational. The march saw participation from several steelworkers and their families, emphasising the significance of the steel industry to Scunthorpe. The sentiment was echoed by supporters who shared their belief that such a critical industry should never have been privatised. As the day drew to a close, Sir Keir Starmer met with British Steel workers near Scunthorpe, following the bill’s unopposed passage through the House of Commons. The Prime Minister addressed the steelworkers, acknowledging their contribution to keeping the industry alive and emphasising the importance of their roles within the community.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
