MPs want China kept out of key industries

FURIOUS MPs demanded China be kept away from our most vital industries after ministers refused to rule out the possibility of another firm from the Communist state getting involved in British Steel.

- By Steph Spyro

The Government was forced to wrest control of the Scunthorpe plant from Jingye in a dramatic Saturday sitting of Parliament.

Yesterday, business and trade minister Sarah Jones said there was a “preference” for a private sector partner to manage the steelworks.

She insisted the UK would “continue to have that pragmatic relationship with” China.

Asked if the Government would rule out another Chinese partner for the plant, she said: “At the moment, I’m not going to say yes or no to anything that isn’t at the moment on the table or being looked at.”