No guarantee British Steel plant will be able to continue, says business secretary

Jonathan Reynolds says ‘high trust bar’ now in place for Chinese companies to invest in critical UK infrastructure

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The business secretary has refused to guarantee that blast furnaces in Scunthorpe will get raw materials in time, saying the emergency government action meant there was now a “high trust bar” for Chinese companies to invest in critical UK industries.

Jonathan Reynolds declined to directly accuse the British Steel owner Jingye of sabotaging the plant but it is understood ministers do not expect the company to return to any negotiations.