'I'm certain that there is a bright future for the steelworks here in Scunthorpe'

THE Chancellor says the Government risked "throwing good money after bad" during negotiations over Scunthorpe’s steel works.

- By MARK PAGE

Rachel Reeves visited the site on Thursday and said that the Government will "play a big role" in shaping the future of the British Steel plant.

MPs and Lords headed to Westminster last weekend as Parliament was recalled from recess on a Saturday for the first time since the Falklands conflict in 1982.

During the session, the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act was quickly passed and became law later that day. This legislation empowers the Government to mandate steel firms in England to maintain their operations, introducing criminal penalties for company chiefs who disobey.

The saga follows negotiations with British Steel's owner, Jingye, as attempts intensified to keep the Scunthorpe blast furnaces operational after the Chinese firm announced a consultation to potentially shut them down.