The House of Commons is being recalled tomorrow to discuss the future of British Steel.
MPs are being brought back to Westminster from the Easter recess amid intense manoeuvring in the wake of Donald Trump‘s tariffs.
All steel and aluminium imports to the US have been hit with a 25 per cent levy, in another blow to the already struggling UK industry.
The Chinese owner of the Scunthorpe-based business plans to close the blast furnaces and switch to a greener form of production.
The return of Parliament is thought to be to sign off a technical measure to stop the furnace being shut down immediately – which might be irreversible.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is understood to have given approval for a rare Saturday sitting. It will be the first one since 2019, when MPs approved Boris Johnson‘s Brexit deal.
The Chinese owner of the Scunthorpe-based business plans to close the blast furnaces and switch to a greener form of production
MPs are being brought back to Westminster from the Easter recess amid intense manoeuvring in the wake of Donald Trump ‘s tariffs (file picture)
All steel and aluminium imports to the US have been hit with a 25 per cent levy by Mr Trump (pictured), in another blow to the already struggling UK industry
Ministers have been footing the bill to buy specialist coal from Japan needed for the process in the short-term, with nationalisation on the cards.
Officials approved funding for the 55,000-ton coal consignment after being warned that supplies were on the verge of running out, with the facility unlikely to reopen if its two furnaces shut.
British Steel was bought by Jingye Group, a Chinese company in March 2020.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and officials met with the chief executives of Jingye and British Steel earlier this week for discussions on steelmaking in Scunthorpe.
A statement said: ‘Both sides welcomed continued cooperation in talks to find a way forward.
‘The UK Government thanked Jingye for their respect for the workforce during this process, and work continues at pace to find a resolution.’
Hopes have been fading that the UK can secure a deal to wipe out the US tariffs.
Asked this morning if she was losing confidence in the prospect of a US trade deal, Chancellor Rachel Reeves stressed negotiations were ongoing.
But she suggested little progress was being made, and the focus was turning to other trade partners.
‘We continue to engage with our counterparts in the United States, and of course we want to secure the best deal possible for British jobs and British industry. And we are absolutely … resolved to do everything we can,’ she said.
Asked this morning if she was losing confidence in the prospect of a US trade deal, Chancellor Rachel Reeves stressed negotiations were ongoing
‘But, at the same time, we also want to improve trading relations with other countries around the world.
‘It’s why I hosted the Indian finance minister in London this week as part of our economic and financial dialogue, and to try and secure a free trade and investment treaty with India.
‘It’s also why we are having a summit with the European Union in May to improve our trading relations.
‘I’ll be travelling to Poland later today to meet with my finance minister counterparts from across Europe.’
