China condemns UK nationalisation of British Steel plant

London – The British government has taken control of the United Kingdom’s last operational steelworks after mounting concerns that its former Chinese owners might cease production. The move, announced by the Department for Business and Trade, is presented as a pre‑emptive step to safeguard a critical industrial asset and protect the jobs of the plant’s workforce, which numbers several hundred employees.

The steelworks, which has been under Chinese ownership for the past decade, faced speculation that the parent company could shut the facility amid broader restructuring of its overseas holdings. Officials said the intervention will keep the mill running while a longer‑term ownership solution is explored, and that the government will work with industry bodies to ensure continuity of supply for domestic manufacturers. The action underscores the strategic importance placed on maintaining a domestic steel capacity in the face of global market pressures.