As part of Breedon’s Back British Cement campaign, new research of a representative sample of MP’s views of the British cement industry shows strong cross-party support.

The Back British Cement campaign highlights that, despite cement being a key ingredient of concrete, UK cement production is at its lowest level since 1950 and imports now account for around 32% of UK cement sales. Breedon are asking that government address the issues the industry is facing with high energy costs, uneven taxation and carbon leakage, and its overarching aim is to ensure a sustainable future for domestic cement manufacturing and the delivery of construction, housing and infrastructure projects.

The recent research was commissioned on behalf of Breedon Group, and was conducted by Yonder Consulting, among 102 MPs from all parties. The results found that most MPs back Breedon's policy asks and the economic case for British cement, although many MPs still lack awareness of the significant challenges facing the British cement industry.

The principal findings of the research were:

  • Backing British Cement – around three-quarters of all MPs agree with the arguments relating to Breedon's overall policy asks, while the economic arguments outpolled that relating to prioritising reducing carbon omissions
  • Low awareness – only around a third of MPs claim to be aware of the challenges facing UK cement
  • Low confidence – only one in eight MPs are confident that the UK can deliver its major construction and infrastructure ambitions if domestic cement production continues to decline at the current rate
  • Aware of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), but less so its timing – less than two-in-five are aware that its introduction is due to come into effect in January 2027
  • Levelling the playing field – nearly two-thirds of MPs agree the government should address the imbalance between the costs borne by domestic as compared to overseas cement producers.

Following these findings, Breedon has said that it will continue to ramp up its engagement with government and opposition parties to highlight the importance of a strong and sustainable domestic cement industry to deliver the UK's economic growth, construction ambitions and transition to a lower-carbon economy.

Rob Wood, Chief Executive of Breedon, said: "We thank MPs for sending a strong message of support for our Back British Cement campaign. Domestically produced cement is fundamental to the UK's ability to build the homes and infrastructure we need, while supporting skilled jobs, regional economies and robust supply chains.

"Our research shows there is strong support among MPs for maintaining domestic production and ensuring UK producers can compete on a level playing field with a workable CBAM.

"Breedon believes that backing British cement is fundamental to delivering the Government's ambitions for reindustrialisation and growth in every postcode, and we therefore ask again for the Government's unequivocal backing in deeds, not just words, of this foundation industry."