The U.K. government is moving forward with new legislation aimed at safeguarding the country’s last operational blast furnaces at the Scunthorpe steelworks. The bill, which has already passed through the lower chamber, is now headed to the House of Lords and is expected to be approved later on Saturday.
In a statement from Downing Street, the government confirmed that the new law would grant it the authority to issue directives to steel manufacturers in England—a move intended specifically to preserve operations at the Scunthorpe site.
Under the legislation, ministers will be able to procure the raw materials required to keep the blast furnaces running while the government searches for a partner to co-invest in the facility.
“Steel is vital to the whole country,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “We will act to secure Britain’s future.”
The private company running the site had previously rejected multiple government offers to fund necessary materials, arguing that the blast furnaces were no longer economically viable. The firm cited significant daily losses, reportedly in the six-figure range, as the reason for its refusal.
This move comes amid mounting pressure on the government to bolster the steel industry, especially following the imposition of a 25 percent tariff on all steel imports by U.S. President Donald Trump—a protectionist policy that has disrupted global markets and galvanized calls for industrial support at home.
By stepping in to maintain operations at Scunthorpe, ministers hope to send a broader message that the U.K. is committed to protecting industrial jobs. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Starmer’s recent remarks that Trump’s trade policies mark the end of the globalization era, and his pledge to restore faith in the power of active government.
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