Council leader statement: British Steel – ‘Scunthorpe needs a future, not perpetual uncertainty’.

Statement from Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, following the announcement by the Prime Minister that legislation will be brought forward giving the government the ability to own British Steel.

“Protecting steelmaking in Scunthorpe matters, not just to North Lincolnshire, but to Britain’s economic security, defence capability and industrial independence.

“There are still a lot of questions and not so many answers and I look forward to seeing the detailed plan from government.

“What has been announced today is legislation that could allow nationalisation at some point in the future, subject to further tests, further decisions and further approvals.

“Steelworkers and their families are looking for certainty about the future of the site. They want to know there is a serious long-term plan for steelmaking, investment and jobs in this town. Scunthorpe deserves a future, not perpetual uncertainty.

“The question now is not simply how we preserve what remains, but how we build something stronger for the future. Securing a positive future for virgin blast furnace steel is the ambition, but it cannot become the ceiling of our ambition – it is the bare minimum from which we must build.

“We have the land, the people, the infrastructure and the capability to become one of the UK’s most important strategic manufacturing and engineering locations. We can move from not only protecting existing jobs, but creating thousands more through advanced manufacturing, engineering, logistics, energy and supply chain industries.

“I accept this cannot be done overnight, but there is an opportunity now to move quickly and with purpose. I will work closely with government and industry to secure a definitive long-term commitment so that we can get on with the hard work of building a brighter and more prosperous future for Scunthorpe.”