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The Guardian view on taking back control of steel: back in state hands, but far from sorted | Editorial

From regional pride to green transition, Britain’s steel story demands strategy, not just nostalgia – and destination that is fair for allIn 1976, night-shift steelworkers at Templeborough – then the world’s largest electric arc plant – broke a production record. A letter from Prime Minister Jim Callaghan awaited them, hailing the shift a triumph for the state-owned plant and for Britain. It might be back to the future after Sir Keir Starmer greeted Scunthorpe workers this weekend, to mark his government taking control of British Steel from its Chinese owners.The UK has stumbled – or rather been dragged – back into industrial policy. After decades of laissez‑faire hand-wringing, the looming closure of Britain’s last blast furnaces forced the business secretary’s hand. Nationalisation, a word redolent of postwar statecraft, is back on the table. And rightly so.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

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