Sir Keir Starmer says future of British Steel 'hangs in balance' as MPs recalled to Parliament

Jingye, the Chinese owner of British Steel, plans to close the blast furnaces and switch to a greener form of production.

Sir Keir said: “As Prime Minister, I will always act in the national interest to protect British jobs and British workers.

“This afternoon, the future of British Steel hangs in the balance.

“Jobs, investment, growth, our economic and national security are all on the line.”

MPs are set to vote on the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill, which would give Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds the power to direct the staff to keep the blast furnaces running.

Parliamentarians have been recalled at late notice as the Government fears that Jingye has not ordered the raw materials to keep the furnaces online

If they went offline, it would be impossible to reactivate them.

It is highly likely that MPs will pass the bill today, with the Conservatives and Reform supporting taking British Steel into public ownership.

The Government has been clear that this is not full nationalisation, although The Yorkshire Post understands that it makes it more likely in the future.

Taxpayer money would effectively be used to purchase the raw materials and cover any losses to keep the blast furnaces online.

As things stand, Mr Reynolds still hopes to come to an agreement with Jingye or another private company to run the plant - the only furnaces in the UK which can produce virgin steel.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Ministers could not have allowed a foundation industry to go under with the loss of more than 3,000 jobs and key skills.

“It is absolutely the right thing to do to begin the process of nationalisation."