Keir Starmer and steel workers calling for their industry to be protected

British Steel has suddenly been in the spotlight since the end of last week amid fears that the company could collapse.

Keir Starmer even took the unusual move of summoning MPs back to parliament – on a Saturday in the middle of their Easter recess – so the government could legally step in and take over the firm via an emergency law.

But why was this one company so important? Here’s what you need to know.

What’s happened with British Steel?

British Steel is the last remaining producer of mass-produced virgin steel in England, and has two blast furnaces.

The Lincolnshire plant currently employs 2,700 people – about 75% of British Steel’s whole workforce.

Chinese firm Jingye took over in 2019, when Boris Johnson was in Downing Street.

But the overseas owner recently decided that it was no longer economically viable because of the investment needed to upgrade the works to run on renewable energy.

There’s also plenty of steel on the international market right now, pushing down price (and demand).

The Labour government have been holding talks with Jingye to try to prevent the site’s closure, but it seems these discussions have broken down.

That’s why MPs were called to Westminster on Saturday.

Why was it so important to save........

© HuffPost