On Saturday 12th April, Parliament was recalled from Easter recess to debate the Steel Industry as the Labour Government stepped in to save British Steel.

The Bill granted the Government emergency powers to direct steel companies in order to secure the immediate future of British Steel in Scunthorpe, by maintaining the operation of steel furnaces.

Since Labour was elected to government in July 2024, the Department for Business and Trade has been negotiating with the owners of British Steel.

However, despite the Business Secretary’s generous offer of Government support, they declined the offer and accelerated plans to close furnaces.

This Labour Government knows that a thriving industry like steel works is crucial to local people- providing reliable income, pride in work and a strong sense of community. And it’s crucial for the country; for our economy and national security.

That is why this Government took decisive action to protect British Steel and British jobs, directing steel works, and ordering the raw materials needed to keep furnaces running.

This is a marked difference from the actions of the previous Government, who allowed the closure of the blast furnaces at the steel works at Port Talbot in January 2024.

Despite the previous government’s actions, it was this Labour Government that negotiated a better deal for workers and have invested millions of pounds into Port Talbot.

I know how important local industry is to communities. As a coalfield area, the legacy of Barnsley’s coalmines is still a strong part of our community’s identity.

Almost 90% of the mining workforce became unemployed in the first 10 years after the 1984 strike. For communities in the north, Scotland, South Wales and, of course, Yorkshire, where coalmining was a vital industry, the effects were devastating.

Sadly, the pits shut from the Conservative’s determination to decimate the industry following the 1984 strike, and as a community we still feel the effects today. This is a striking example of what can happen when governments do not support working people.

This Labour Government is on the side of British workers, and are implementing measures to ensure that they are protected in their place of employment.

In March, the Commons passed a bill to update employment laws- turning the page on insecure work, poor productivity and low pay.

This includes ending exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices, establishing day one rights for parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers, as well as strengthening statutory sick pay.

This is the difference that a Labour Government makes: taking swift and decisive action to protect British industry and British jobs.