North East MPs say Steel Industry Bill is ‘bittersweet’

Crucial legislation to protect British steelmaking that Prime Minister Keir Starmer “hangs in the balance” has been passed by MPs in an unprecedented Saturday sitting in the Commons.

MPs from across the country were summoned to Westminster today (April 12) after being unexpectedly recalled from recess to debate emergency legislation to protect the future of British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant in North Lincolnshire.

MPs debate in the commons. (Image: PA) The debate was called after negotiations with British Steel’s Chinese owners, Jingye, appeared to break down.

Owner Jingye’s plans to close the blast furnaces and switch to a greener form of production would also have an impact on the steel fabrication and supply chain in Teesside at Lackenby and Skinningrove.

But, the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill, which was passed today by MPs, gives the Government the power to instruct steel companies in England to keep facilities open, with criminal penalties for executives if they fail to comply.

The bill has now passed through the House of Lords, and Royal assent was granted to the now Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act. 

Ministers said these measures were necessary to keep the Scunthorpe blast furnaces open and protect both the UK’s primary steelmaking capacity and the 3,500 jobs involved.

However, whilst this is welcome news for the region’s MPs, it is “bittersweet”.

Some have reiterated that if similar steps had come into force ten years ago, Redcar’s Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS) plant that closed in 2015 and was demolished in 2023 may not have been lost.

Redcar MP Anna Turley. (Image: HOUSE OF COMMONS) Before heading down to Westminster today, Redcar MP Anna Turley said: “The action taken by the Labour government today is vital to securing the future of British Steels’ blast furnaces.

“It is quite a bittersweet day of course because it’s hard not to think about how different things would have been if David Cameron implemented these powers ten years ago and intervened to save the Redcar blast furnaces.”

Referring back to 2015, she told The Northern Echo: “We declared wanted the government to intervene and take control of the assets – the blast furnace and the coke ovens.

“The government refused to intervene and let SSI go to the wall. Emergency powers like this world have saved our blast furnace, steel making on Teesside and crucially the 2,300 jobs that were lost.”

Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald added: “We do remember 2015 very, very well and one of the issues that we are talking about at Scunthorpe is the quality of the coke that is being provided. 

Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald. “I can’t help thinking that in 2015 we had the best coke ovens in the country. But that was then, this is now. We’ve got to make sure that we preserve our core industries.”

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Darlington MP Lola McEvoy added: “Where the Tories passed the buck year after year, I’m proud we’ve got a Labour Government that has stepped up to protect thousands of jobs and save steelmaking for our nation.

“Steel is a critical industry for the UK and one that really should be thriving. Instead it has been neglected for years, passed from pillar to post. As my neighbour Anna Turley said: if David Cameron had stepped up like Keir Starmer has today, we could have saved Redcar too.

“Today I am feeling hopeful with this bold action that we can restore that pride once again.”