British manufacturers, including steel, ceramics, glass, and paper makers, have urged the government to take action to help them deal with soaring wholesale gas prices. They also warned of factory closures due to swelling energy bills. Industry executives discussed the matter with business minister Kwasi Kwarteng, but the talks had not resulted in immediate solutions.
Kwarteng’s department said on Friday that they would continue working closely with companies to ensure a competitive future for the country’s energy-intensive industries. Lawmakers within the ruling Conservative Party have also pushed for more short-term support for these sectors, including a cap on gas prices.
Britain’s economy is grappling with a supply chain bottlenecks. A shortage of foreign truck drivers after Brexit has hobbled the country’s supply chains of many products, including fuel, pork, poultry, and bottled water, threatening the post-pandemic recovery.
