Scunthorpe reacts to decision to nationalise British Steel

Many in this Lincolnshire town welcome what they perceive to be a lifeline.

“It’s a mucky place and hard work,” says Phil. “But those works have given a lot of people around here a good living over many, many years.”

Last year, the UK government took control of British Steel’s operations in Scunthorpe, though it was still owned by China’s Jingye Group.

Nationalisation gives the government the power and freedom to decide on the future of the plant, while keeping its blast furnaces going.

Phil, though pleased with the decision, is guarded.

“I don’t know how it’s going to remain profitable when it’s competing against cheaper, foreign steel,” he says.

“The industry is nothing like it was. Those days are gone. In the early 1970s, 22,000 people were employed in the works. Now, it’s less than 3,000, although plenty of others in the supply chain, shops and so on rely on it.”