By Simon Hugo Else, Scunny.net Correspondent
Scunthorpe, 11 April 2025 In a rare and urgent move, the UK Parliament will sit on **Saturday, 12 April**, to debate the future of British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant, as fears grow over the imminent closure of the UK’s last operational blast furnaces. The recall—only the **35th since 1948**—comes after crisis talks between the government and Chinese owner Jingye Group failed to secure a deal to keep the plant running .
Why MPs Are Being Recalled
Emergency Session: The House of Commons will convene at **11am Saturday**, cutting short MPs’ Easter recess, to discuss potential nationalisation or state intervention. The last such recall was in **August 2021** during the Afghanistan crisis .
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Critical Deadline : British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant, which employs **2,700 workers** and produces most of the UK’s rail tracks, faces shutdown by June if raw material supplies (like coal and iron ore) are not secured. Jingye has already canceled orders, citing losses of **£700,000 daily** due to high energy costs and **25% US tariffs** on steel exports .
Nationalisation Push : Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has demanded immediate nationalisation, while Labour’s Chancellor **Rachel Reeves** stated “all options are on the table,” including a government-backed coal purchase to keep furnaces operational .
Local and National Stakes
The plant’s closure would leave the UK as the **only G7 nation without primary steel production**, jeopardizing infrastructure projects and national security. Scunthorpe’s economy hinges on the steelworks, with unions warning of a “knife-edge” situation .
Government’s Dilemma
– **Coal Controversy**: Ministers have offered to buy emergency coal imports—sparking backlash after Energy Secretary **Ed Miliband** blocked a new UK coal mine in 2024 .
Political Divide: While Labour seeks a “commercial solution,” Reform and steel unions urge state control. PM **Keir Starmer** has pledged to prioritize jobs, saying, *“I have in my mind’s eye the workforce”* .
What’s Next?
With Jingye yet to accept the government’s coal proposal, Saturday’s debate could determine whether British Steel is temporarily rescued or taken into public ownership. Follow **Scunny.net** for live updates.