Member

Economic security relies on our ability to buy, make and sell more here in Britain. In April, this Government faced a choice: to let British Steel in Scunthorpe go under or to intervene—that choice was a choice not of the metal trader but of this Labour Government. We heard representations from workers, trade unions and my honourable friend the Member for Scunthorpe, Sir Nicholas Dakin. My right honourable friend the Business Secretary and I were not prepared to tolerate a situation in which Britain’s steel capacity was fatally undermined. We were not prepared to see another working-class community lose the pride, prosperity and dignity that industry provides, so we did intervene to save British Steel and the jobs that come with it, and I am proud of that decision.