58 h. ago The May elections are a perfect opportunity for Nigel Farage to peddle his politics of grievance | Andrew Rawnlsey

An unpopular government and floundering official opposition creates fertile territory for ReformFor his next trick, perhaps Comrade Farage will belt out all the verses of The Red Flag and tell us that his favourite book is The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists. Brother Nigel has popped up on the government’s left flank by demanding the immediate nationalisation of the steel industry. He’s also expressed a solidarity with trades unionists hitherto undetected in this longtime admirer of Margaret Thatcher.At an event at a working men’s club in one of the more deprived wards of County Durham, the old fraud even claimed to have a personal affinity with steelworkers because he used to be in the “metals business” himself. This was a disingenuous reference to his time as a trader at the London Metal Exchange, which involved long lunches in the City fuelled with copious quantities of port. Or maybe he was thinking of his gig as a paid “brand ambassador” for a firm that deals in gold bullion. ...

Politics

7 d. ago Crucial coal will be delivered to British Steel plant in Scunthorpe TODAY as ministers try to avoid full nationalisation

After stepping in to take control of British Steel over the weekend, the Government faced a race against time to get materials such as coking coal and iron ore to the site.

Politics

8 d. ago Rory etched in icing as Co Down home town revels in sweet success

Rory McIlroy realising his long-held Masters dream was the talk of the town in Holywood on Monday.

Politics

8 d. ago ‘Very alarming’: Red Bull hold crisis talks as Verstappen stews over Bahrain F1 GP

Dutchman finished sixth at Sakhir circuitHorner says team need to react ‘very quickly’Senior figures at Red Bull held crisis talks after the Bahrain Grand Prix finished with a deeply dissatisfied Max Verstappen languishing in sixth place. But the team principal, Christian Horner, admitted there will be no quick fix.Horner conceded the team have problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible, but said: “This race has exposed some pitfalls that are obviously very clear that we need to get on top of very quickly. Ultimately you can mask it a little through setup and we were able to achieve that last weekend in Suzuka. We understand where the issues are, it’s introducing the solutions that obviously take a little more time.” Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Labour confident it can keep British Steel furnaces burning after taking control

British Steel is in a race to secure raw materials for its blast furnace and keep operations going

Events

8 d. ago Arsenal transfer news: 'Talks held' with star as Mikel Arteta could beat Liverpool to ace

Arsenal could make history in the Champions League this season but are already eyeing up new transfers after falling short in the Premier League title race

Sport

8 d. ago SNP are ‘manufacturing grievance’ with Grangemouth calls – minister

Kirsty McNeill said the situation at Grangemouth is different to the steelmaking plant at Scunthorpe.

Politics

9 d. ago Full nationalisation of British Steel now 'likely' says Business Secretary, as he warns China faces 'high trust bar' to get involved in UK firms

Jonathan Reynolds admitted that while his 'preference' is to find a commercial partner to run the industry, the state could well have to take responsibility.

Events

9 d. ago British Steel shut North East site after Richard Tice's firm threatened rent hike

In recent days the Boston and Skegness MP has vocally called for the government to nationalise British Steel and save the firm's plant in Scunthorpe

Events

1 week ago Emergency bill to 'save' British Steel that could nationalise Scunthorpe furnace clears Parliament

The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill has cleared the House of Lords and will become law once it receives royal assent.

Politics

1 week ago Parliament approves British Steel bill as sources say owners blocked from entering Scunthorpe plant – live

The Steel Industry (Special Measures) has now passed through the House of Lords and is awaiting royal assentIt’s been a busy morning for Sarah Jones, who is now on BBC Breakfast.Asked whether the government had received any private offers for the company’s Scunthorpe plant, Sarah Jones said:There is not at the moment, to answer your question, a private company that is there willing to invest at this point.When we came into government, there was a deal on the table with Tata Steel in Port Talbot.We negotiated in 10 weeks a much better deal, but there was a private company willing to invest, who are now investing.We are hoping that the company will co-operate with what we are asking them to do, we hope that we will give them a notice and they will continue.If they do not, we will step in. Now the company will be liable for any costs that we incur, and we will seek to get that money back.We have the £2.5 billion fund for steel which we had in our manifesto, that we will use if necessar...

Politics

1 week ago MPs approve British Steel bill after Chinese owners’ ‘excessive’ demands – live

Bill now proceeds to the House of Lords for debate and passageIt’s been a busy morning for Sarah Jones, who is now on BBC Breakfast.Asked whether the government had received any private offers for the company’s Scunthorpe plant, Sarah Jones said:There is not at the moment, to answer your question, a private company that is there willing to invest at this point.When we came into government, there was a deal on the table with Tata Steel in Port Talbot.We negotiated in 10 weeks a much better deal, but there was a private company willing to invest, who are now investing.We are hoping that the company will co-operate with what we are asking them to do, we hope that we will give them a notice and they will continue.If they do not, we will step in. Now the company will be liable for any costs that we incur, and we will seek to get that money back.We have the £2.5 billion fund for steel which we had in our manifesto, that we will use if necessary, so there will be no extra costs to the Exch...

Politics

1 week ago Labour MP calls for Grangemouth action amid British Steel control plan

“The PM recognises the strategic importance of Scunthorpe steel, he really should do the same for Grangemouth oil.”

Politics

1 week ago Labour faces calls to nationalise British Steel as MPs urged to pass emergency law today to save UK steelmaking and thousands of jobs

Both the Commons and the Lords have reconvened during Easter recess for a highly unusual Saturday sitting to debate a Bill aimed at blocking Jingye from closing the Scunthorpe site.

Society

1 week ago Labour MP calls for ministers to act over Grangemouth as well as at Scunthorpe

Brian Leishman said there are ‘striking similarities’ between Scunthorpe, where the steel plant faces closure, and the refinery at Grangemouth.

Politics

1 week ago British Steel nationalisation is ‘likely option’, says business secretary

MPs recalled to Parliament to debate bill after Chinese owners said furnaces were not financially viable

Politics

1 week ago British Steel latest: Nationalisation ‘likely’, says business secretary as MPs debate emergency law

The prime minister will pass a bill through parliament in a single day on Saturday

Society

1 week ago MPs debate emergency law to take control of British Steel after Chinese owners’ ‘excessive’ demands – live

No 10 has published a draft law that would give the business secretary the power to direct the companyIt’s been a busy morning for Sarah Jones, who is now on BBC Breakfast.Asked whether the government had received any private offers for the company’s Scunthorpe plant, Sarah Jones said:There is not at the moment, to answer your question, a private company that is there willing to invest at this point.When we came into government, there was a deal on the table with Tata Steel in Port Talbot.We negotiated in 10 weeks a much better deal, but there was a private company willing to invest, who are now investing.We are hoping that the company will co-operate with what we are asking them to do, we hope that we will give them a notice and they will continue.If they do not, we will step in. Now the company will be liable for any costs that we incur, and we will seek to get that money back.We have the £2.5 billion fund for steel which we had in our manifesto, that we will use if necessary, so ...

Society

1 week ago MPs debating emergency law to take control of British Steel – live

No 10 has published a draft law that would give the business secretary the power to direct the companyIt’s been a busy morning for Sarah Jones, who is now on BBC Breakfast.Asked whether the government had received any private offers for the company’s Scunthorpe plant, Sarah Jones said:There is not at the moment, to answer your question, a private company that is there willing to invest at this point.When we came into government, there was a deal on the table with Tata Steel in Port Talbot.We negotiated in 10 weeks a much better deal, but there was a private company willing to invest, who are now investing.We are hoping that the company will co-operate with what we are asking them to do, we hope that we will give them a notice and they will continue.If they do not, we will step in. Now the company will be liable for any costs that we incur, and we will seek to get that money back.We have the £2.5 billion fund for steel which we had in our manifesto, that we will use if necessary, so ...

Society

1 week ago MPs and Lords head to parliament as PM aims to pass emergency law today to save British Steel – live

MPs to debate emergency law that will give the business secretary the power to direct the companyBlast furnaces have been making steel in Britain for 300 years, ever since they helped start the Industrial Revolution. This weekend, parliament will sit for the first Saturday in decades as it tries to keep the last two furnaces running for a bit longer.Keir Starmer has recalled MPs to discuss emergency powers to direct steel companies, including British Steel’s Scunthorpe steelworks, to “preserve capability and ensure public safety”. The move would be short of nationalisation, but it would give the government more influence on the steel industry than at any point since Margaret Thatcher. Continue reading...

Politics