A nation that cannot make its own steel cannot defend itself.
The UK once produced over 25 million tonnes of steel a year. Today it is closer to ~6ā7 million ā less than 0.4% of global output, while China alone produces over 1 billion tonnes (>50% of the worldās supply).
Meanwhile, steel demand is rising again ā defence, energy, rail, housing ā all require secure, domestic supply. Yet the UK imports ~60% of the steel it uses.
A 50% domestic production target is not protectionism. It is the minimum threshold for resilience.
Cracking down on dumped imports and resetting tariffs is not ideology ā it is industrial statecraft. Every serious economy does it when it matters.
From Scunthorpe to Port Talbot, this is about more than jobs ā it is about strategic capability.
Sovereignty is not a slogan. It is the ability to forge your own shield.