Protecting and promoting our world-class British Steel

Tuesday saw another debate on steel in Parliament, and again I was making the case for our blast furnaces here in Scunthorpe. I firmly believe we need the ability to make virgin steel - both for jobs here at home but also for the UK’s national resilience.

Earlier this week I had a meeting with NLC leader Rob Waltham and Industry Minister, Nus Ghani. We reiterated once again how important the steelworks are to the local area and the impact that changes would have on the local area.

I recently had a meeting with the Business Sec, Kemi Badenoch, to talk about our steelworks. Once again I pushed the point that we simply cannot lose the ability to make our own virgin steel.

My friend and colleague, Sir Edward Leigh, and I were back in the Commons pushing the Govt again to retain the ability to make virgin steel.

I continued my campaign for our steelworks at defence questions this week. I’ve made it clear that we need to be able to make virgin steel for our defence – I was glad the Minister agreed, but we need to see this reflected in outcomes!

The King’s Speech focused, quite rightly, on the importance of growing the economy. My view is to grow properly we will need to have our own supply of steel – it’s used in every single aspect of our lives from the buildings we live and work in, to our cars all the way down to our pots and pans.

At PMQs this week I stood up to ask the Prime Minister again to reassure the House of Commons that the he is personally aware of the situation at British Steel. This is something I will keep raising in the House at every opportunity.

It was an honour and a privilege to attend the Kirton in Lindsey Service of Remembrance today - having laid my wreath at our Scunthorpe Memorial yesterday. As always it was a very moving occasion which was extremely well attended and beautifully organised.

Following British Steel’s announcement on a plan to close their blast furnaces, I submitted an Urgent Question to the Speaker and he summoned the Minister to the Commons to answer.

I’m pleased the press are recognising what an important issue steel is for our community, if anyone would like to catch up with Look North you can watch my recent interview here.