There is simply no good reason to suppose that public ownership would lead to better management and higher investment when historically it has produced the opposite.
Making Cambridge a global science city needs to be a cross-governmental mission, rather than one left just to the housing department
Our deputy editor joins the Institute for Government to talk about Thames Water, Net Zero, and Boris Johnson’s new column.
Most of us can get used to dysfunction in the busy and familiar setting of our day-to-day lives. But a change of scene offers a different perspective.
To the extent the opposition parties have proposals, they offer wildly unrealistic timescales – and neglect to mention the huge increases in household bills they would necessitate.
William Gladstone once complained that the Liberals were washed from office by a “torrent of gin and beer”. Tory MPs fear they face a similar – if smellier – fate if the Government doesn’t get tough on the water companies.
Privatisation has made our water industry more efficient. Continuing issues stem from existing regulation.
Effectively, for much of the population, UBI would merely take their money and then give it back to them. What’s the point?
This second piece in our mini-series assessing his performance at DEFRA argues that he has taken a few strong first steps – but that real results are needed.
The injection of the truth that it would mean politicians in charge of services is enough to make most people see sense.
The Government must always stand up to businesses’ excesses, without losing sight of the huge benefits that partnerships have brought.
If we can win the argument for well-regulated, competitive provision of essential services in this sector, we can win it elsewhere.
Plus: As I bask by a sun-illuminated swimming pool on holiday in Spain, I reflect on how the Spanish respond if you try to fiddle your water supply…
My local experience as a constituency MP has been a reminder of how nationalisation failed and privatisation works.
In my area, ill-judged EU rules have helped see all development blocked for nine years, exacerbating the housing crisis whilst doing little to actually protect the environment.