The leader of North Lincolnshire Council has welcomed Parliament’s recent legislation giving ministers the power to bring British Steel into public ownership — but warned that nationalisation must be the starting point for a broader strategy to secure Scunthorpe’s steel industry.
Local leader sets out four priorities
Cllr Rob Waltham said the public interest case for intervention had been met and underlined how Scunthorpe’s capacity to produce virgin steel is vital for defence, national infrastructure and the wider economy. At the same time he set out four priorities he said the Government must deliver to turn ownership into a sustainable future for the plant and the workforce.
- Competitive energy costs so British steel can compete in domestic and global markets.
- Trade deals that protect UK industry, ensuring steel capacity is not sacrificed during negotiations.
- Ambitious investment in Scunthorpe, including protecting blast furnaces while also pursuing green production routes.
- Partnership with the workforce and management to shape any long-term plan.
“The public interest test is met. Defence, national security, critical infrastructure and the economy are all written into the legislation. Britain’s ability to make its own virgin steel in Scunthorpe is fundamental to every one of them.”
Waltham cautioned that simply bringing the company into public hands does not constitute a full industrial plan. He called on ministers to act quickly to provide certainty for the site’s employees and to create conditions that allow the business to operate competitively and invest for the future.
Balancing traditional and low‑carbon production
The council leader emphasised that any future blueprint should not force an artificial choice between traditional blast-furnace production and newer low-carbon methods. Instead, he argued Scunthorpe should be positioned to serve “multiple steel markets” by using a mix of blast furnaces, electric arc furnaces and hydrogen-based processes.
He also stressed the importance of involving those with direct experience of the site in formulating plans, saying the people who work on the plant know its operations and opportunities best and should be central to decision-making.
| Priority | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Competitive energy costs | Reduce production costs and improve international competitiveness |
| Trade protections | Ensure sovereign industrial capacity is not compromised in negotiations |
| Ambitious investment | Support infrastructure, protect blast furnaces and enable green transition |
| Worker and management input | Build plans grounded in operational experience |
The intervention comes amid national debate about the future of heavy industry, energy policy and how the UK transitions to lower-carbon manufacturing while retaining critical domestic capabilities. For Scunthorpe, where steelmaking has long been central to the local economy, the outcome will shape employment, local supply chains and the town’s industrial role for years to come.
At a local level the council’s message is clear: the machinery of state can secure ownership, but ministers must now set the conditions — energy pricing, trade stance and targeted investment — to ensure the plant survives and evolves. Equally, any strategy should be co‑designed with the workforce and managers who will be responsible for delivering it.
Further details on how Government intends to proceed with the running, funding or restructuring of British Steel have not been set out by ministers in the material provided to the council statement.
