Andrew Neil loses in at Ed Miliband in British Steel row | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Andrew Neil accused Ed Miliband of “nauseating hypocrisy” in a row over British Steel. The firm was taken over by the Government on Saturday after the Chinese homeowners moved to shut the Scunthorpe web site.

In a put up on X, Energy Secretary Mr Miliband hailed Parliament being recalled from the Easter recess to go emergency laws. He mentioned: “Very proud to be within the House at the moment to see my colleagues Jonathan Reynolds and Sarah Jones standing up for British steelworkers and trade.

“This Government is delivering the muscular industrial policy this country needs in uncertain times.”

But veteran broadcaster Mr Neil replied: “The nauseating hypocrisy of E Miliband is jaw-dropping.

“He and his type throughout the political class — Labour, Tory, Lib Dem, SNP — promoted the very power insurance policies that lumbered Britain with the best industrial power prices on the earth, making industries like metal uneconomic.

“They tolerated no dissent from their net zero nonsense even as deindustrialisation gathered pace.

“And now Miliband has the audacity to pose as the saviour of British steelworkers! In truth, the British political class has shamefully failed them, none more so than net zero zealot Miliband.”

Jingye, the Chinese proprietor of British Steel, had deliberate to shut the blast furnaces at Britain’s final major steelmaking plant.

The firm now faces a race towards time to make sure it has sufficient uncooked supplies to maintain the 2 blast furnaces burning.

Without these supplies, similar to coking coal and iron ore, the blast furnaces will cool, which dangers irreparable harm.