Christchurch construction company boss urges MPs to nationalise British Steel

A DEMAND for British Steel to be nationalised has been issued by the head of a Christchurch firm which builds steel structures worldwide.

Simon Boyd, managing director of Reidsteel, has told all 650 MPs that action must be taken urgently to bring the business into public ownership.

His mailing list included prime minister Keir Starmer and business and trade minister Jonathan Reynolds.

Mr Boyd’s call comes amid the government taking control of British Steel’s plant in Scunthorpe, with its Chinese owner Jingye reportedly looking to switch off its furnaces. It’s the last plant in the UK producing virgin steel, which is used in major projects such as buildings and railways.

He said: “Action must be taken urgently to save British Steel – and that means taking the company into public ownership, where it belongs.

“High grade steel made in blast furnaces is critical for use in our defence, aerospace and other industries as well as for our national infrastructure and economy.

“If British Steel closes its blast furnaces, the UK will be forced to rely on imported steel. Steelmaking in the UK is essential to our manufacturing base, our security and infrastructure.”

The UK steel industry contributes £4.2bn to the UK economy and supports 75,000 jobs. Mr Boyd has written to the MPs as part of his Save British Steel campaign.

He writes: “We must retain and then replace our blast furnaces with new modern blast furnaces and production technology and further invest in electric arc furnaces for the future.”

REIDsteel uses British Steel in its design, manufacture and erection of steel structures, including bridges, aircraft hangars and airports, around the world.

The 130-strong company was the first steelwork contractor to sign the UK Steel Charter and make British Steel its primary supplier.