Sheffield call for government to protect steel as key to defence sector and advanced manufacturing jobs
Sheffield councillors have called for government action to protect South Yorkshire’s steel industry because of its importance to advanced manufacturing including defence companies.
LibDem councillors condemned the government for delays to its defence spending review at a meeting of Sheffield City Council yesterday (June 24). They quoted Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP John Healey, who quit as defence minister earlier this month.
He said the Defence Investment Plan “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”.
The motion, proposed by group leader Coun Martin Smith, argued that the government has a "slow and confused approach to the steel industry in South Yorkshire”.
He said it is a significant issue, affecting one of the city’s biggest sectors and major employers, and poses “a serious risk to Sheffield’s economy”.
The motion said: “We should support local companies in maximising opportunities created by the government announcement of preferment of British companies in the procurement of defence contracts.”
Game
Coun Ian Horner, seconding, condemned US President Donald Trump for approaching defence as “a computer game”. He said the US can’t be relied upon, which underlines the importance of Britain strengthening its own armed forces.
In their motion, the LibDems stressed the vital importance of steel in Sheffield’s post-war industrial growth. They said it wouldn’t have been possible without immigrants settling here to work in steel.
A Labour amendment, proposed by Coun Ben Miskell, welcomed the government’s UK Steel Strategy, “including up to £2.5bn to rebuild and modernise the sector, new trade measures from July 1, 2026, and an ambition target for at least 50% of the steel used in UK infrastructure, defence and construction to be melted and manufactured at home”.
Coun Miskell condemned comments from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage that Jaguar Land Rover “deserved to go bust”.
Green Alexi Dimond, proposing his party’s unsuccessful amendment, argued that the LibDems were confusing defence with arms sales. They make us less safe and support countries such as Saudi Arabia, who are bombing Yemen.
Crimes
He said he hoped ex-Prime Minister Keir Starmer “will one day be in the Hague” for war crimes over his support for Israel.
Independent Qais Al-Ahdal said his family came from Yemen to work in the steel industry.
He called for advanced manufacturing to move away from defence contracts and said the BAe artillery factory in Meadowhall is making armaments being used in Kashmir.