Sir Keir Starmer has issued a stark warning, stating that the future of British Steel is ‘on a knife edge’, with significant implications for our economy and national security. This has led to an uncommon Saturday convening of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords to discuss legislation aimed at safeguarding the future of the Scunthorpe plant in North Lincolnshire. Starmer has pledged that he will ‘always act in the national interest to protect British jobs and British workers’ amidst concerns over the potential consequences of a British Steel collapse. Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, voiced her relief that the government is taking heed of union representations over British Steel’s future. She emphasised the necessity for a long-term plan, whilst commending the temporary respite this offers workers. To secure a flourishing future for Scunthorpe as a modern steel producer, Graham urged the government to deem steel as a critical national infrastructure and to prioritise UK steel in all infrastructure projects. This is the first Saturday recall since the Falklands War started in 1982, highlighting the urgency of maintaining raw material supplies for the blast furnaces, which the proposed legislation aims to ensure.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
