UK parliament convenes Saturday as government moves to take control of British Steel

LONDON

The UK’s parliament will convene on Saturday for an emergency vote on new legislation that would bring British Steel under government control, according to British media on Friday.

The proposed Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill will grant the prime minister powers to “direct steel companies in England” — a move No. 10 says will be used to prevent the closure of the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe by its Chinese owners, Jingye.

The company had been planning to shut the site following the breakdown of negotiations over the future of its two remaining blast furnaces.

In response, the government has been weighing the option of nationalization, though a senior source said that outcome was “not necessarily” guaranteed.

Citing a government spokesperson, the Guardian reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been clear, "his government will always act in the national interest. All actions we take are in the name of British industry, British jobs and for British workers.”

The bill aims to secure the Scunthorpe site, safeguard public safety, and keep strategic options open as the government assesses the plant’s future.

Ministers believe the legislation will preserve the UK’s core steelmaking capability and the thousands of jobs that depend on it.

The GMB union welcomed the move, describing it as a likely “first step” towards nationalization.

“The business secretary must be given huge praise for acting decisively to safeguard this vital industry and the thousands of jobs that rely on it,” a union spokesperson said.

The government said it has been negotiating “in good faith” with Jingye since taking office, maintaining that there is a “bright future for steel in the UK.”

“All options remain on the table,” the No 10 spokesperson added.