A bill designed to save British Steel's Scunthorpe plant has been approved by Parliament and granted Royal Assent, meaning it becomes law
UK government officials are standing by to take control of the site, the BBC understands
In Scunthorpe, steelworkers kept furnaces burning today as their future now seems more certain
Nationalisation looks like the increasingly inevitable next step, writes the BBC's Chris Mason
"Today, my government has stepped in to save British Steel", Starmer says, adding he is "turning the page on a decade of decline"
PM Keir Starmer meets British Steel workers
Image source, Parliament TVAs the debate in the House of Commons continues, peers have also convened in the House of Lords to discuss the government's proposal for the future of British Steel's Scunthorpe site.
Peers are currently considering the motion but they won't be debating it until it has been passed by MPs.
The bill will move to the Lords once the Commons debate has concluded.
Joe Pike
Political & Investigations Correspondent
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds seems to be the big winner from today's draft legislation.
He will get the power to direct the board and the staff of British Steel. Interestingly the draft legislation also says he will be able to enter the company's premises "using force if necessary" alongside anyone he chooses.
Allies of Reynolds argue it Is too early to work out the next steps for saving the company. "We need to get through today, get the raw materials on site and get beyond this crisis point", an individual in government told me.
"This is just a sticking plaster on a gaping wound", argued Tory MP Edward Leigh, who represents the neighbouring constituency to Scunthorpe.
Whatever happens next, it Is likely to be expensive for the UK taxpayer. The high cost of energy for the industry remains a major concern.
One senior union figure has told me this issue must be addressed in Rachel Reeves's spending review.
Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter
Image source, PA MediaLiberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper says she welcomes the sense of urgency over the recall of parliament due to the importance of the steel industry.
However, she warns Reynolds is giving himself huge and unconstrained powers that could set a very dangerous precedent, and these should be removed as soon as possible.
Reynolds intervenes to agree and give a commitment to doing so.
Jack Fenwick
Political reporter
These are sweeping powers that the business secretary is asking for.
Jonathan Reynolds himself likened them to the Civil Contingencies Act – that’s the bit of legislation that allows the government to respond to national emergences such as war.
Reynolds told MPs he doesn’t want to keep the powers for a minute longer than necessary – and I suspect that’s a point that opposition MPs will press him on throughout the day.
He’s also made clear quite how frustrated the government is with the Chinese owners of British Steel Jingye.
Government figures have been talking privately all week about how relations are strained.
But the language used today by the business secretary - in the very public setting of the House of Commons - was still striking.
Jonathan Reynolds said that Jingye intended to refuse new orders of materials, refuse to keep the blast furnaces running and wanted to close down primary steelmaking in Britain. Jingye previously rejected this claim.
And asked how much taxpayers’ money might be spent if the government does proceed with a full nationalisation, he was keen to stress that the market value for the company is effectively zero.
Kevin Shoesmith
Reporting from Scunthorpe
Image source, BBC/Kevin ShoesmithAlmost 200 miles north of Westminster, people in Scunthorpe are keeping a close eye on the government's statements.
Friends Jamie Morgan, 35, Ryan Middleton, 24, and Jack Evans, 25, tell the BBC what the steel plant means to them as the debate in the Commons continues.
“The works are massively important to this town,” says Jamie. Jack adds: “With the works, this town will go under. The government needs to act.”
Ryan, a recruitment consultant, warns: “There are opportunities in Scunthorpe but not enough for 2,700, which is what would be needed if the works close. I’m certain of that.”
Later today Scunthorpe United fans will march to the club’s Glanford Park stadium in a show of solidarity for the town’s steelworkers.
Image source, PA MediaAndrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, is delivering the response for the Conservative party and quickly takes aim at the government, saying that "failure to prepare is preparing to fail".
He argues ministers failed to prepare adequately to address the Scunthorpe issue and says they're currently pursuing what he describes as a "botched nationalisation plan".
Griffith claims "there is no industrial strategy" under this government and warns glass, chemicals, cars and concrete are other industries at risk from high energy costs.
Griffith says the government is being "disrespectful" by asking MPs to provide them with a "blank cheque" to save British Steel - arguing that the debate could've been held when Parliament wasn't in recess.
Chris Mason
Political editor
Hello from the Press Gallery of the House of Commons.
This plan will become law today, and there is widespread agreement among MPs across the House that the steel plant at Scunthorpe should be kept open.
But beneath that broad agreement is raw, angry politics. This is sharpened because the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch who is, herself, a former business secretary.
Exchanges between the Tory leader and her Labour successor Jonathan Reynolds had a barb and personal anger to them.
Reynolds argued Badenoch didn’t have a plan to save the Scunthorpe plant. She argued the deal was being negotiated and he has caved to trades union demands in what he is setting out today.
I expect, by the way, that the Conservatives will abstain later. They don’t want to endorse the government’s plan, but equally don’t want to publicly oppose a plan that will keep the plant open, when the alternative is that it shuts down.
Jack Fenwick
Political reporter
One question that’s already being asked of the business secretary is why he’s considering nationalising the steelworks at Scunthorpe, when the same offer wasn’t on the table for Port Talbot.
Traditional steelmaking ended in Port Talbot last September and almost 3,000 jobs were cut, when the owners struck a deal with the government to transition to a greener process.
The original government offers to Port Talbot and Scunthorpe were actually very similar. Both were offered £500m to help move to a system that uses electric arc furnaces. Port Talbot’s Indian owners Tata accepted that offer. Scunthorpe’s Chinese owners Jingye didn’t.
Jonathan Reynolds said that deal means that Port Talbot’s future is more secure. But the Westminster leader of Plaid Cymru, Liz Savile-Roberts, calls on the government to change today’s emergency legislation to take control of what’s left of the steelworks there too.
For years, Scunthorpe and Port Talbot have produced very different types of steel. Many in the steel industry would say both are crucial for national security.
But I understand some in government believe the type of steel made in specifically Scunthorpe – which is used in construction, rail and defence projects – is simply too important to let go.
Image source, PA MediaThe SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn asks whether Scotland's Grangemouth oil refinery can be brought under the control of government.
Reynolds tells him the situation is "not comparable" because Grangemouth is not the only refinery remaining but one of three, and the behaviour of the owners is also not comparable.
He says Labour has "fought" to save industrial assets across the UK.
Image source, PA MediaLeader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey asks Reynolds if he agrees that anyone who campaigned for Trump has behaved "shamefully unpatriotically" and should apologise to British steel workers.
Reynold says that issues around British steel doesn't just revolve around US tariffs, but says it's in the interest of both countries to remove those levies.
As a reminder, US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on steel imports to the US in February.
Image source, PA MediaThe debate in the House of Commons is still ongoing.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says he does not want the powers granted in the bill "longer than necessary".
Reform UK MP Richard Tice intervenes to say now is the time to nationalise the steel company.
Reynolds responds to say the emergency legislation is "not a magic wand" and the UK state cannot fund the long-term transformation of British steel.
The business secretary, however, notes that nationalisation may be "the likely option" in the long term.
However, he adds, if this legislation is not passed, other outcomes cannot be considered.
Chris Mason
Political editor
Image source, ReutersThis bill is all about giving the government the power to run British Steel. That is what the aim is - in a single sentence.
But take a look at what the legislation actually says – and the power it confers on the Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds.
They can enter the plant with force if necessary and any attempt by the company to shut it down would be overturned by the government.
It is something of an insight into how relationships between the government and the parent company of British Steel have broken down that they have concluded this is necessary.
Reynolds describes the legislation before MPs today as a "proportionate and necessary step".
He says it will allow the government to "take control" of British Steel’s blast furnaces, maintain steel production and protect the site's workforce.
The bill does not transfer ownership of the site to the government, Reynolds says.
He adds, given the exceptional nature of recalling parliament, he thought it better to limit the powers of the bill rather than introducing "more complex matters" of property rights and public ownership at this time.
Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds defends the government's negotiations with Jingye, saying the UK was acting in good faith but it became clear the Chinese company was not.
He explains that it became clear Jingye's intention was to refuse to order more raw material and refuse to pay for existing orders, resulting in closure. Jingye previously rejected this claim.
The British government offered to buy raw materials to ensure no losses for the company, but an excessive counter-offer was made, he says, for the government to pay Jingye hundreds of millions without any conditions.
Image source, House of CommonsBusiness and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is now speaking and starts by saying MPs are meeting under "exceptional circumstances, to take exceptional action, in what are exceptional times".
The decision to recall Parliament "wasn't taken lightly", he says, as he thanks his colleagues for coming back on a Saturday.
Conservative MP Alex Burghart is now speaking in the Commons and says the government has "made a total pig's breakfast" on the situation with British Steel.
He says that those paying attention knew this was coming.
The Commons is incredibly rowdy at this point, and the Speaker ushers the House to be quiet.
Burghart adds the government is making "bad deals for Britain".
Chris Mason
Political editor
Hello from the Press Gallery of the House of Commons.
Pretty thinly populated journalistically, but down in the chamber the Labour benches are full, the Conservative benches modestly filled but not entirely so, and it is similar for the other parties.
Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter
Image source, House of CommonsLeader of the Commons Lucy Powell is the first to speak in the extraordinary debate.
She thanks MPs and staff for meeting in special circumstances, saying the Commons needs to act "decisively" and "at pace" to ensure furnaces are kept going to save the domestic production of virgin steel.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now sitting on the front benches as Commons leader Lucy Powell prepares to kick off today's emergency debate.
Stick with us as we bring you the highlights from today's proceedings. You can also follow along by clicking Watch Live at the top of this page.
Image source, Getty ImagesAhead of today's debate, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has written for the Scunthorpe Telegraph, saying the government is "acting with urgency" to deliver "security and renewal for working people".
Steel is "part of the lifeblood of Scunthorpe", and has "shaped the community for generations of families here who have earnt their living from the steelworks", Starmer writes.
"I believe there is a bright future for steel in this country. And we will keep all options on the table to secure the best outcome," he adds.
"Today, we are acting to secure your future, the future of British steel in Scunthorpe, and the future of Britain. That is what we will always do."