British Steel - back under government control

[East_coast]

the important thing is to save the plant and the town, the politics can come after

The goes fundamentally against the principles of the EU which was formed from the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) whose principle tenet was to put the community above national interests. This is one of the main reasons the UK has no steel industry. Far more efficient steel production in the Ruhr Valley and no ability for the UK to subsidize steel production under EU rules in the 1970s, 1980's and 1990's when most of the industry was decimated.

The UK produces ~2% of Europe's steel and not very efficiently for low grade versions of it.

Obviously in this century dumping from China is the main issue

[hullexile]

This just popped up in my facebook (a new steel mill being built in the Philippines). Interestingly the biggest customer last year for steel made here was Canada, for the Vancouver subway or something.

[Peaky]

I agree nationalisation has its place when needs must. See 2008, Thames Water risks, etc etc.

But this plant is utterly past its shelf life and will need to be decommissioned in 4 or 5 years (now at taxpayer cost). Feels very much a political decision to can kick that issue beyond the next election, and not give Farage any more fodder over newly nationalised railway tracks having to be replaced with foreign muck.

All the stuff about national interest and resilience is just cover for the above. There is no way they're building tanks and warships with steel from the plant. Too late now to have a change of heart and become european about ownership of industry and infrastructure. Even UK passports are still made in France as far as I know.