The Royal Navy could be deployed to deliver an essential fuel shipment to Scunthorpe’s blast furnaces after MPs voted to seize control of British Steel from Chinese owners. While the new law stopped short of nationalisation, Mr Reynolds said full state ownership 'remains on the table' and may be the 'likely option' for British Steel. He also accused the plant's owner of trying to shut down Britain's steel industry, saying Jingye, which bought British Steel in 2020, has 'irrevocably and unilaterally closed down primary steel making'. The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act gives the Government the power to instruct steel companies in England to keep the plant open, with criminal penalties for executives if they fail to comply. But opposition MPs accused ministers of a 'botched nationalisation', with Conservative MP Alex Burghart saying the Government had made a 'total pig's breakfast' of saving British Steel.

Source: The Times April 13, 2025 10:41 UTC