British Steel nationalisation: what went wrong, and what happens now?

Keir Starmer’s plan for full state ownership marks latest chapter in Scunthorpe plant’s troubled history

• Full nationalisation of British Steel expected in king’s speech

• Nils Pratley: More questions than answers on the future

Four queens – blast furnaces named after Anne, Bess (Elizabeth), Victoria and Mary – loom over the British Steel works at Scunthorpe. Within days the queens could be under public ownership, after Keir Starmer on Monday promised legislation to nationalise the plant.

“Strong nations in a world like this need to make steel,” Starmer said on Monday in a speech. The prime minister was hoping decisive action would fend off challenges to his leadership.