UK's Johnson says he wants to protect steelmakers from energy costs

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday it was reasonable to consider ways of protecting British steelmakers against surging energy costs which are less of a problem for their competitors from other countries. "We have a system in the UK where we don't privilege our industry in the way that some other countries do," Johnson told broadcasters as he arrived in Germany for a meeting with Group of Seven leaders. "We need to fix that.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday it was reasonable to consider ways of protecting British steelmakers against surging energy costs which are less of a problem for their competitors from other countries.

"We have a system in the UK where we don't privilege our industry in the way that some other countries do," Johnson told broadcasters as he arrived in Germany for a meeting with Group of Seven leaders.

"We need to fix that. We need British steel to be provided with much cheaper energy and cheaper electricity for its blast furnaces. But until we can fix that, I think it is reasonable for UK steel to have the same protections." (Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Toby Chopra)