Author: Jasper Jolly

British Steel, owned by a Chinese company, has requested £600m in taxpayer support to upgrade to greener technology. The government is reviewing plans to move from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces in Scunthorpe. The steel industry could be heavily impacted by the upcoming general election, with Labour leader Keir Starmer promising £3bn to decarbonize the industry. Ministers will decide on support post-election, with scrutiny due to Chinese ownership. Tata Steel is also seeking £500m for a switch to electric arc furnaces. Labour emphasizes the importance of primary steelmaking for national security. Despite financial struggles, British Steel plans to transition…

Labour leader Keir Starmer made a bold pledge to uphold the UK’s submarine-based nuclear weapons programme, ensuring the country’s continuous at-sea deterrent and committing to building new nuclear submarines. Despite criticism from the Conservative defence secretary regarding shadow cabinet members’ previous votes against nuclear weapon replacement, Starmer remains steadfast in his commitment. While the cost of the programme is significant and could potentially increase, both Labour and the Conservatives have committed to allocating 2.5% of the UK’s GDP to defence spending. However, concerns remain about the impact on other military budgets and the overall affordability of the programme. Starmer’s unwavering…