PM recalls Parliament

Badenoch blaming Labour as usual on the news. Isn’t it time that, as Keir Starmer used to do when he was in opposition, put the country first and work with the government.

full news/comments from opposition
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx20jr8rjj2o

Its British Steel back in the hands of the Brits, had to be done.

Yes, I thought that it was to be nationalised, but it seems to stop short of that so far.

To forward Net Zero, Milliband will not mine coal in the UK so we import it from Australia via Japan in diesel fuelled cargo ships.
When will this madness stop.
energynewsbeat.co/millions-on-coal-from-japan-to-save-our-steel-net-zero-madness-as-taxpayers-foot-the-bill-to-keep-furnaces-burning/?amp=1

I thought it was the High Court that stopped planning permission for the Whitehaven Coal mine?

I can't remember this being considered for Port Talbot.

OldFrill

To forward Net Zero, Milliband will not mine coal in the UK so we import it from Australia via Japan in diesel fuelled cargo ships.
When will this madness stop.
energynewsbeat.co/millions-on-coal-from-japan-to-save-our-steel-net-zero-madness-as-taxpayers-foot-the-bill-to-keep-furnaces-burning/?amp=1

I would agree with this argument if we expected net zero now, at this moment. However, a single argument does not warrant a definitive conclusion. To get to net zero we have to move incrementally.

Pippa000

I can't remember this being considered for Port Talbot.

Neither can I, which is why I think Badenoch has a nerve criticising Labour for trying to do something about Scunthorpe.

Labour could have saved Port Talbot (and suggested they would during the GE) but then just followed the Conservative party's electrification route, though the success of that, if it ever happens, probably depends if we can ever produce electricity for our needs if we want Net Zero.
Of course with the potential lack of US support re defence we need steel to further weaponise and it's suicide to stop producing our own, we also should be mining our own coal to support it.
It was FotE and local campaigns that saw off Whitehaven Coal via the High Court. The damage these supposed green campaigns inflict on our self sufficiency, security and economy is beyond belief.

Whitewavemark2

Yes, I thought that it was to be nationalised, but it seems to stop short of that so far.

Disappointed as I think our steel industry should be nationalised. Maybe it will be yet.

OldFrill

Labour could have saved Port Talbot (and suggested they would during the GE) but then just followed the Conservative party's electrification route, though the success of that, if it ever happens, probably depends if we can ever produce electricity for our needs if we want Net Zero.
Of course with the potential lack of US support re defence we need steel to further weaponise and it's suicide to stop producing our own, we also should be mining our own coal to support it.
It was FotE and local campaigns that saw off Whitehaven Coal via the High Court. The damage these supposed green campaigns inflict on our self sufficiency, security and economy is beyond belief.

Where do you get the assertion that Labour could in the end have saved Port Talbot’s last furnace temporarily from OldFrill? Why would they have spent what turned out to be billions on a short term solution, when that point Scunthorpe was still a viable plant?

Oreo

Whitewavemark2

Yes, I thought that it was to be nationalised, but it seems to stop short of that so far.

Disappointed as I think our steel industry should be nationalised. Maybe it will be yet.

Agreed. I wonder if the price the Chinese company would sell for at the moment is extortionate? They do have us over a barrel, because we don’t have an alternative.

Yes Casdon, they probably do have us over a barrel.

Once again we can thank Thatcher for the mess we are in today:

The British Steel Corporation was privatized by the Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher in 1988, according to The Adam Smith Institute. The privatization was formalized with the British Steel Act 1988, transferring the corporation's assets to British Steel plc, which was then listed on the Stock Exchange, as noted by British Steel.

Would electrified furnaces be capable of producing the kind of steels needed for national security? I thought they could only deal with recycled scrap.

Yes, steel making can use electric powered furnaces.
e360.yale.edu/digest/steel-industry-carbon-coal-electric-arc-furnaces#:~:text=The%20global%20steel%20industry%20is,detailed%20in%20a%20new%20report.
I don’t know if the companies operating in the UK are proposing to do that here currently, not at Port Talbot, which will be recycling only. Ultimately the UK does need an electric production plant for new steel in my opinion.

Casdon

OldFrill

Labour could have saved Port Talbot (and suggested they would during the GE) but then just followed the Conservative party's electrification route, though the success of that, if it ever happens, probably depends if we can ever produce electricity for our needs if we want Net Zero.
Of course with the potential lack of US support re defence we need steel to further weaponise and it's suicide to stop producing our own, we also should be mining our own coal to support it.
It was FotE and local campaigns that saw off Whitehaven Coal via the High Court. The damage these supposed green campaigns inflict on our self sufficiency, security and economy is beyond belief.

Where do you get the assertion that Labour could in the end have saved Port Talbot’s last furnace temporarily from OldFrill? Why would they have spent what turned out to be billions on a short term solution, when that point Scunthorpe was still a viable plant?

I've not said temporarily.

Do you think coal powered blast furnaces should operate on a permanent basis then OldFrill?

Casdon

Do you think coal powered blast furnaces should operate on a permanent basis then OldFrill?

Would have thought that was obvious

Margaret Thatcher ruined the steel industry in Scotland by closing Ravenscraig and privatising it. Starmer could have saved the last refinery in Scotland but chose not to. It could have been nationalised too. I'm fed up with Westminster politicians doing what right for England but dismissing similar situations in Scotland

Well said Grandmabatty💐

We need Scunthorpe to manufacture virgin, high quality steel. I used to work for a company using only British made steel for oil pipelines. All the orders stated no Chinese or Indian steel.

I’ve been a bit of a fence sitter for environmental reasons but we also need coking coal, at least for now. I’d pay more tax to expand our industries.

The Labour Party needs to get a grip and renationalise our prime industries, not just steel. I loathe Brexit but let’s use our freedom now. We’ll need it in the future for defence and new Universal Theme park. Oh, and ensure jobs for the future.

ayse

We need Scunthorpe to manufacture virgin, high quality steel. I used to work for a company using only British made steel for oil pipelines. All the orders stated no Chinese or Indian steel.

I’ve been a bit of a fence sitter for environmental reasons but we also need coking coal, at least for now. I’d pay more tax to expand our industries.

The Labour Party needs to get a grip and renationalise our prime industries, not just steel. I loathe Brexit but let’s use our freedom now. We’ll need it in the future for defence and new Universal Theme park. Oh, and ensure jobs for the future.

Well said.

Just listened to BBC news. It seems even the Greens and Reform support the government. The Conservatives as ever are blaming the government for the problem.

OldFrill

Casdon

Do you think coal powered blast furnaces should operate on a permanent basis then OldFrill?

Would have thought that was obvious

Perhaps you could explain the "obvious" to those of us who missed it.