In a dramatic move, Parliament will be recalled for an extraordinary sitting this Saturday – the first in more than 40 years – as the Government seeks emergency powers to intervene in the future of British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant.
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will convene to debate the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill, legislation which would give ministers the power to direct steel companies in England and potentially nationalise key operations to safeguard national interests.
The rare weekend sitting comes amid growing concern over plans by Jingye, the Chinese owner of British Steel, to close the Scunthorpe blast furnaces and switch to greener electric arc furnace technology. While this shift is seen as environmentally progressive, it threatens hundreds of skilled jobs and a pillar of Britain’s industrial heritage.
A Number 10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has been clear, his government will always act in the national interest. All actions we take are in the name of British industry, British jobs and for British workers.
“Tomorrow Parliament will be recalled to debate the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill. The Bill provides the government with the power to direct steel companies in England, which we will use to protect the Scunthorpe site.
“It enables the UK Government to preserve capability and ensure public safety. It also ensures all options remain viable for the future of the plant and the livelihoods it supports.
“We have been negotiating with British Steel’s owners in good faith ever since coming to office. We have always been clear there is a bright future for steel in the UK. All options remain on the table.”
The Commons sitting will begin at 11am, with MPs expected to debate the bill throughout the day. According to the office of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the motion under discussion will be “legislative proposals to ensure the continued operation of British Steel blast furnaces is safeguarded.”
Meanwhile, the House of Lords will sit from midday, underlining the urgency and cross-parliamentary significance of the issue.
This marks the first Saturday sitting of Parliament since 1982, when MPs were recalled during the outbreak of the Falklands War, a move that reflects just how seriously the Government views the potential impact of British Steel’s planned restructuring.
The Scunthorpe plant, located in North Lincolnshire, has been at the heart of the UK’s steel production for over a century and remains a critical part of the country’s industrial capability. Union leaders, local MPs, and business groups have been calling on the Government to take decisive action to secure the site’s future and prevent a potential collapse in the domestic steel industry.
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Critics of Jingye’s proposed changes argue that while environmental modernisation is important, the UK cannot afford to sacrifice strategic industries without first ensuring a just transition for workers and safeguarding national manufacturing capacity.
Shadow Business Secretary Rachel Reeves welcomed the decision to recall Parliament, saying: “This Government has dithered for too long on steel. Now they must act with urgency and clarity. Scunthorpe’s workers deserve certainty, and British industry deserves a future.”
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the GMB union, Gary Smith, added: “This is crunch time for Scunthorpe and for British steelmaking. We’re pleased to see Parliament taking this seriously – but the only acceptable outcome is keeping those blast furnaces running and protecting the livelihoods of thousands.”
With tensions rising and time running short, the eyes of the nation will be on Westminster this weekend as MPs and peers gather to determine whether the Government will step in and secure one of Britain’s last major steelworks.
