We had an urgent question in the Commons today on the ongoing issue with the British Steel. As negotiations were continuing between Government and British Steel, Ministers were understandably unable to say a great deal due to the commercial confidentiality of such discussions.
I spoke in the Commons earlier and continue to be involved with Ministers on this issue. The Government is genuinely pulling out all of the stops to resolve this issue. We have already provided £120 million of support to the company and are in discussions to provide further support. Any support provided has to comply with UK and EU state aid rules so has to be on a commercial basis. That is why I pointed out in the Commons earlier that even if the company was nationalised, the Government could only put money in on those same commercial terms so that isn't a solution to this either.
I also made the point that one of the main reasons I have supported the Brexit deal negotiated by the PM was because it would have provided the certainty needed by the industry. Hence it's a little hard to take lectures from some MPs who have voted to block Brexit and create the uncertainty which is causing the very problems we face now. Same goes for their support for some climate change protestors who if they had their way would see Scunthorpe shut down altogether.
I know many residents don't like the deal negotiated by the PM and I really don't like the revised deal laid out today. However, before deciding whether to vote for it or not, I will of course balance what it would do for our local economy. That's why I will consider closely what has been proposed today even though I don't like some of what is on offer.
Such a shame to see the Labour Party locally trying to play politics with this though. The particular myth some of them are perpetuating is that this is all about cheap Chinese steel or the lack of a sector deal. On the former, the UK cannot implement unilateral tariffs on steel as that can only be done by the EU and on the latter we are working to a sector deal but whatever the debate on these issues, the truith is that neither of those issues are the source of the current problem. That won't stop some locally playing politics with steel worker jobs.
The key issues here are the recent changes in commodity prices and moreover the Brexit uncertainty which MPs of all parties are to blame for. I've voted consistently to give the certainty the steel industry demanded, others will have to justify why they haven't.
Locally myself and others MPs will continue to work together on this issue and I can assure residents no stone is being left unturned by the Government as we try to find a solution.
Andrew
