Starmer nationalises British Steel and visits Ukraine on last full day as Labour leader
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has nationalised British Steel and travelled to Ukraine on his final full day as Labour Party leader, with Andy Burnham set to take over.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has nationalised British Steel on his last full day before stepping down as Labour leader. The move had been anticipated for some time and follows the recent passage of the steel industry nationalisation bill. The company, previously owned by Chinese firm Jingye, was already under public control but has now been formally taken into state ownership.
Reform UK has welcomed the decision, noting that the party called for the nationalisation of British Steel earlier this year. Deputy leader Richard Tice stated that it is good the government has finally listened, but insisted that compensation to the Chinese owners should be no more than one pound due to the company's significant liabilities.
Starmer is currently in Kyiv for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit comes as he prepares to hand over leadership to Andy Burnham, who will become Labour leader tomorrow and prime minister on Monday. It is widely expected that Burnham will appoint current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood as chancellor.
In recent days, Starmer has made several key decisions, including finalising the defence investment plan, apologising to victims of forced adoption, and securing a conditional pardon for Ruth Ellis. In a statement regarding the nationalisation, he emphasised that British Steel is part of the nation's fabric and that the decision protects jobs and secures a vital national capability.
