Hard decisions over a possible sale and future subsidies loom now full nationalisation is on the cards
“One of the proudest things we have done in government,” said Keir Starmer in Monday’s big speech about the decision a year ago to recall parliament in order to take control of British Steel at Scunthorpe.
It was an odd boast because last year’s action was merely an emergency exercise in saving the patient, as opposed to getting British Steel on its feet and out of the hospital. Taking control meant the Chinese owner, Jingye, could not turn off the two blast furnaces but meant the government was on the hook for operational losses, which will be £615m and counting by next month according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
Starmer boasting about nationalising British Steel is rich when the NAO says losses will hit £615m by next month — that’s a lot of taxpayer money down the drain.
The cost of prescription medication in some countries is frankly indefensible. (90cc44)
So the government stepped in to stop Jingye from shutting the blast furnaces, but what’s the plan to actually make Scunthorpe profitable? Nationalisation without a strategy is just kicking the can.
Sleep is finally being recognised as a cornerstone of good health rather than optional. (abd987)
Interesting that Starmer calls recalling parliament one of his proudest moments, but all they did was stop the patient from dying — they haven’t cured British Steel at all.
Waiting lists have become a political crisis that affects real people every day. (1a2606)
Organ donation rates could be transformed by switching to an opt-out system. (0e1418)