Speech

PM statement on British Steel: 11 April 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statement on British Steel.

The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

As Prime Minister, I will always act in the national interest.

鈥o protect British jobs and British workers.

This afternoon, the future of British steel hangs in the balance.聽

Jobs. Investment. Growth.

Our economic and national security鈥�

鈥re all on the line.

I鈥檝e been to Scunthorpe.

I鈥檝e met the steel workers.

I know how important steel is鈥�

鈥ot just to the region, but to聽the whole country.

It鈥檚 part of our national story.

Part of the pride and heritage of this nation.

And I鈥檒l tell you this - it is聽essential for our future.

Our Plan for Change means we need more steel not less.

So we will act with urgency.

Now, we should be clear -

This situation 鈥� and our response 鈥� is unique.

While it is true that we are facing a new era of global instability鈥�

Our concerns about this plant鈥�

And negotiations to protect it鈥�

Have been running for years.

This moment could have happened at any time.

But it has happened now.

And I will not stand by.

There is no time聽to聽waste.

So we are recalling Parliament tomorrow

For a Saturday sitting.

We will pass emergency legislation

In one day

To give the Business Secretary the powers

To do everything possible to stop the closure of these blast furnaces.

And as I have said, we will keep all options on the table.

Our future is in our hands.

This government will not sit back and just hope.

We will act to secure Britain鈥檚 future鈥�

With British steel: made in Britain, in the national interest.

Updates to this page

Published 11 April 2025