public ownership

The government has so far stopped short of taking British Steel back into full public ownership, but has not ruled out nationalisation, while also looking for potential private investors to fund operations.

In the Commons, Reynolds acknowledged that public ownership was "the likely option".

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the government's plan was just a "short-term sticking plaster" and both he and the Green Party have called for public ownership as the only option.

The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and his deputy Richard Tice – himself a Lincolnshire MP - visited the works on Tuesday, with Mr Farage claiming there were "3 days to save British Steel" and the way to do that was to take it "into public ownership."

Large tracts are held in public ownership, but significant sections are privately-owned farmland.