British Steel workers block Chinese executives from Scunthorpe plant
Representatives from Jingye, British Steel's owner since 2020, arrived at the site at about 8am on Saturday morning, sources said.
But it is understood workers stepped in to block their way to offices, just as MPs were preparing for the start of an emergency debate on the future of the steel industry.
The workers are believed to have feared the Chinese executives were trying to force the closure of Britain's last remaining so-called 'virgin steelworks', whose product is used in major construction projects such as new buildings and railways.
In London, MPs had been recalled to Parliament for an emergency vote to secure Scunthorpe's blast furnaces, paving the way for a transfer of ownership.
Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, told the Commons that Jingye had been planning to 'irrevocably and unilaterally' close down primary steel making at British Steel Scunthorpe.
The Chinese company has previously said it had invested more than £1.2 billion to maintain operations amid production instability and 'significant' financial losses of about £700,000 a day.
On Saturday morning, Humberside Police were called to the Scunthorpe plant following reports of a suspected breach of the peace, at which point the delegation of Chinese executives is understood to have withdrawn.
Officials from Jingye have been on site regularly in recent days, and it has been reported that their relations with the workforce have become increasingly tense.
It is understood that when the Jingye representatives arrived at the plant on Saturday morning, automatic number plate recognition scanners did not allow them through the barriers to the 2,000-acre site.
Humberside Police said on Saturday: 'Officers were in attendance at British Steel in Scunthorpe at 8.30am this morning following a suspected breach of the peace.
'Upon attending, conducting checks and speaking to individuals in the area, there were no concerns raised and no arrests were made.'
A union source confirmed that police were called this morning after the Jingye executives tried to enter the plant, but the delegation left without gaining access.
Later on Saturday, hundreds of people, including steelworkers and their families, marched to Scunthorpe United's stadium in the town in support of the plant.
The crowd chanted: 'We want our steel back' and 'We want British Steel', as passing motorists tooted their horns.
Matt Cooke, 34, a union official for Community, the union that represents steel workers, said: 'The 3,000 jobs there don't come close to the number who rely on those steelworks to stay open – the businesses and the families who need it.'
Alasdair McDiarmid, the general secretary of Community, said: 'Community Union welcomes and wholeheartedly backs the Labour Government's decisive action to take control of British Steel.
'The Government has sought to negotiate constructively and even offered to buy raw materials to stop the blast furnaces closing, but Jingye has shut down every avenue to keep the furnaces running and avoid imminent job losses.
'Today's intervention by the UK Labour Government is a first step towards securing a sustainable future for British Steel and steel communities like Scunthorpe.'
Jingye has been contacted for comment.
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