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Claiming that he passionately believes in UK steelmaking, British Prime Minister Mr Boris Johnson confirmed to UK’s Parliament that the UK government would buy British Steel for major infrastructure projects. He told “We have a massive opportunity because this Government is engaged on a GBP 640 billion infrastructure campaign. HS2 railway, the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station and the Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm are schemes which would use British steel. All the things we are doing across the country, they will call for millions and millions of tonnes of British steel. We will do everything we can to ensure we continue with British jobs producing British steel, with the infrastructure investments I have mentioned.”
But worker unions called on the PM to deliver on promises.
Community Steelworkers' Union Operations Director Mr Alasdair McDiarmid said “We’re pleased to hear the Prime Minister promise to use Britain’s steel for our infrastructure projects, but we have heard this from him before. Last summer he said UK steelmakers would be front of the queue for public contracts but to date nothing has changed. Steelworkers have had enough of warm words, it’s time for Boris Johnson to turn rhetoric into reality and transform public procurement rules to support British jobs and industry.”
GMB National Officer Mr Ross Murdoch said "Positive words are welcome but workers facing job losses will fear that it is more empty rhetoric. We urgently need a real plan for securing a long-term future for steel in the UK. Almost no UK steel is being used in offshore wind infrastructure, despite the billions spent each year in subsidies to developers. The Government could be doing much more to secure orders for this foundational industry.
UK Steel Director General Mr Gareth Stace said “It is essential that the Government go beyond warm words and takes meaningful action and commits to change. We need real reform to how the Government procures its steel, attention paid to where that steel is manufactured, and value placed on the jobs, economic growth, and environmental benefits delivered by using UK-produced steel. We have only one chance to deliver the right recovery for the UK, we must build back better with British steel.”