A secure, long-term future for our steelworks is not just essential for Scunthorpe, but for the country. It is not uncommon for Ministers and colleagues to refer to me as the 'steel lady', as they know what my priorities in Westminster are!
So far, the Government has been a real 'friend' to steel. They have helped to protect our market share by retaining safeguards, encouraged the US to remove tariffs on Scunthorpe steel products, increased the aid available to steel producers to deal with high energy costs and put up with me going on about steel over 140 times in the Commons Chamber! Now, we must go further by helping our steelworks to compete internationally whilst using British steel for British projects at home!
