Scunthorpe MP 'very confident' in steel's future

Scunthorpe MP Sir Nic Dakin said he had a "very high level" of confidence that the necessary steps would be taken to secure the future of the British Steel plant in the town.

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, he said there was a "really difficult job to do now" but the workforce and the management "will be up for that".

Emergency legislation was rushed through Parliament on Saturday to prevent owners Jingye shutting down the two blast furnaces.

The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act allows Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to direct the board and the staff of British Steel.

But he declined to guarantee that the government could secure enough raw materials to keep the furnaces going before existing supplies run out.

Sir Nic said he had been working hard on securing the plant "for a long while".

"I think everybody wants a sustainable business in Scunthorpe," he said.

"We're not out of the woods yet. There is still work to be done, but I've got a very high level of confidence in the management and workforce there, with the support of the government, to take the steps necessary to secure the future."

Sir Nic was not in the House of Commons for Saturday's debate but he said he was "following the proceedings all day". As a government minister, he would have been unable to speak in the Commons as a backbencher.

MPs from around the region and across the political spectrum spoke during the debate.

Reform UK's Richard Tice said he wanted British Steel to be nationalised, Labour's Melanie Onn said the bill was just a "sticking plaster", and speaking after the debate, Conservative MP Victoria Atkins said the government had failed to set out the costs to the taxpayer.

Earlier on Sunday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused the Chinese Communist Party of deliberately sabotaging British Steel.

Asked if he agreed with those comments, Sir Nic said: "It's hard to say those sort of things. It's not the right sort of thing to say."

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