The great twentieth century nationalisations of steel,coal, rail, electricity, telecoms, gas, and vehicle manufacture were meant to modernise these industries, invest large sums of public capital and loans, and make a profit for the state. They were meant to be better employers. Instead together they sent huge bills to taxpayers, spent investment money on plenty of projects that went wrong, had many bad strikes. Most of them sacked many employees, ran up big losses for taxpayers to pay and offered a bad deal to customers.
Steel for example were treated to major new steel works capable of producing more steel than they could ever sell. Years under both Labour and Conservative governments were spent driving through closures.
The government portfolio of the 1970 s and early 1980 s was vast and very costly. The government needed to prevent the nationalised industries taking too much money which would have out more of a squeeze on the NHS, benefits, pensions and schools.
Given shortage of money the government felt forced to allocate more cash to the loss making parts of the portfolio than to the potential fast growing areas. Steel absorbed huge sums to pay losses and to try to slow the pace of plant closures and job losses. The railways losing passenger numbers and market share every year needed ever bigger subsidies to keep running loss making and underused trains. That left telecoms struggling with old technology and limited capacity when telecoms was taking off to handle more data as well as calls. The state gave more money to decline and failure and starved their growth businesses of new money to expand. The state was a dreadful investor, trying to reverse the momentum of the market and changing demands.
If you were the employee of a nationalised industry you were likely to face tge sack,given the large redundancy and closure programmes. If you were a customer you faced high and rising prices for poor service, often linked to rationing. As a taxpayer you were sent huge bills to pay for losses and “ investment”
August 3, 2025
What amazes me is that while socialism fails by every measure, every time and everywhere so many people still cry out for more. Why are they such dreadfully slow learners? The NHS is the proudest achievement of the Red Flagged socialist movement in Britain yet it produces dreadful results, year in year out. It is a festering carbuncle on Britain and yet it still has a virulent fan club claiming it is the best, the envy of the world – and copied by no country outside the communist world.
August 3, 2025
Indeed the model is to tax people and tax competition for example the NHS or Schools so that almost everyone had to use the NHS and State Schools. You have already paid for them so do not have money left to go privately. You have to pay for times over to do so in taxes for the state systems, taxes on the money you earn to pay for private schools, the fees themselves and now 20% VAT on top. For the NHS you have IPT insurance tax at 12%.
Innovation is killed, freedom to choose is strangled and more efficient providers than the state ones are put out of business. Similar applies to other state run outfits. They fix the rules to suit the state run organisation kill competition but it still fails. The totally insane, 3 to 4 times more expensive energy agenda of the zealot fool (or liar) Ed Miliband is yet another example!
August 3, 2025
@Lifelogic,
Vast majority of Tory voters aren’t invested in your level of politics because most people just want a job that pays and then get away from it as quick as they can to ENJOY LIFE! Their family, friends, social life, going to football games / shooting pheasants / sailing / train set / train-spotting / pub / going on holiday / Christmas and so on.
Your hard-nosed capitalism is like Scrooge’s (NOT saying you are not generous – you could be wonderfully generous – but you’re over-focused on efficiency like Scrooge) Vast majority of Tory voters just one to get through life in one piece. And same for most right-wing Europeans.
But the USA is quite different. Their culture is far more about valuing how valuable you are in life by your ‘success’ especially in terms of ‘money.’ Americans, much more, have the Scrooge mindset. And the place is far more like a supermarket than a country compared to the UK or countries across Europe (not talking about the EU). In fact, the USA is far more of a nightmare overall than countries in Europe. Europeans have the commons sense that being happy is far more about ‘success’ in the workplace and money (important as money is). But the USA is far more about being SLAVES to money as opposed to money being the SERVANT of us. So many Americans are just miserable. They’re extra money doesn’t buy them the happiness they crave. And so many, just end up confused and bitter that the American ‘DREAM’ is a FANTASY from one degree to another. Like Don Quixote chasing the windmills.
August 3, 2025
Indeed happiness is not really about money I was just as happy when I had nothing (probably happier) as I am now and younger too. But I do not like to see money wasted doing net harm as so much of government expenditure does. I would prefer to pay my taxes knowing they were not being wasted and certainly not doing far more harm than good. This we certainly see with net zero, net harm covid “vaccines” and lockdowns, HS2, low skilled immigration levels, endless government propaganda, lies and free speech curtailing, Lucy Letby (and Lucy Connolly) absurdly in jail & so much else.
August 3, 2025
Kudos to you for your honesty.
Not attacking money but whether money is our SLAVE or it is our SERVANT.
And I accept what you say about inefficiency (and corruption). It’s extremely annoying especially when you’ve worked hard for your money.
But my main point is what system do we want to defend: The America or the British / European.
When I say British / European I am saying British / European Conservatism or American Conservatism (or Republicanism). And not just the politics but the whole philosophy of being the politics, or connected to the politics, about what it means to be British or American.
And obviously we all agree that the following are wrong: socialism, WOKE, EU, high immigration etc.
My argument is whether we make slave our master (as it is much more in the USA) or our servant. Where we work hard but where we also have time for family, social life, interests, good arts and culture, good health service – and just a happy and patriotic people overall.
And, lastly, what will work?! If we go for the American system, then politicians (all over Europe – not talking about the EU – including the UK) will just not vote these politicians into power. Nor do we want autocracy, either, as power just goes to their heads – whether the autocrats are from the right, left or centre.
Best wishes
August 3, 2025
“What amazes me is that while socialism fails by every measure, every time and everywhere so many people still cry out for more.”
Well if you ask people the dishonest question would you like to tax the richest 20% far more so we can give you 80% better housing, more benefits, higher wages, better public services… they are v. often conned. The state itself benefits hugely in the short terms too with more power, more people to boss around… but soon they run out of other people’s money to piss down the drain. See the net harm Covid Vaccines, the net harm lockdowns, HS2, the dire (measured by outcome) NHS, the train service, Net Zero… vast amount of money spent not only doing no good but doing active harms!
If if they elect a government to cut immigration to the tens of thousands, cut taxes, cut red tape, cut government and government waste – they do not get this as we saw with 14 years of the Con-Socialist.
August 3, 2025
Yes, the NHS should be studied at universities worldwide as to how an organisation should not be run. It is the biggest drug buyer in the world and can therefore theoretically dictate prices but it gets ripped off at every turn.
Either it’s incompetence or someone us profiting from it
I think a more suitable question is why in some areas has privatisation failed. This can be pinpointed to when one T Bluar allowed foreign players to purchase companies through debt financing. They bleached industries dry for example Thames Water and the taxpayer is left responsible. The same with steel
We have been and continue to be badly served by the uniparty in Westminster.
I see demonstrations are taking place around the country by faaaar right citizens against channel paddlers receiving 4 star treatment at taxpayer expense. Maybe the worm is turning.
August 3, 2025
Two Tier, Free Gear, Rarely Here, Tax to Death, Economic Doom Loop Kier has his fingers in his ears!
August 3, 2025
What features make these protesters faaaar right?
How could you possibly know the difference between citizens exercising the long over due protests ( which especially the BBC don’t cover) on housing immigrants before citizens in an orderly queue, and extreme views labelled far right justly or not?
August 3, 2025
First get rid of tree at the point of use. This means that they have you money already in taxes so the “NHS business” treats patients as a nuisance to be deterred if possible not a customer to be treated and charged a fee.
The way for the NHS to get more money is not to treat patients well and serve them well but to lobby government for more tax income. So that is what they do witness the GP “queueing” systems or delays at A&E and for ambulances!
August 3, 2025
I think the NHS does get good drug prices?
Isn’tt that one of Donny’s moans?
August 4, 2025
Donald Trump disagrees with you Ian, he has said the USA is subsidising drugs for the rest of the world. He has sent instructions to leading pharmaceutial manufacturers to bring down the price of drugs in the USA. ‘Experts’ are skeptical but I’d like to see a list of these experts so that we can track the results.
In 2021 the US Gov Accounting Office made a comparison with Australia, Canada and France and found prescription drugs were on average 2 to 4 x more expensive than in the US. He blamed the US drugs lobby. The wording directs US officials to make sure that deals over drug costs made by foreign countries do not result in “unreasonable or discriminatory” price hikes for Americans. – meaning drug companies would be asked to match the lowest price for a drug abroad when selling to US consumers.
“Big pharma will either abide by this principle voluntarily or we’ll use the power of the federal government to ensure that we are paying the same price as other countries,” Trump told reporters.” BBC
Will this push up drug prices in Europe?
August 3, 2025
Well there is not too much I can disagree with in today’s topic as it is mostly history.
What is not covered is why nationalised industries ran into difficulties and options to address those difficulties.
As for the last paragraph, it is a case of :-
‘plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose’ – or maybe even worse?
We never discuss tariffs and whether they could have saved industries like coal, steel, cars etc.
Maybe it is better to have people employed at home rather than paying foreigners for things we need?
August 3, 2025
This government seems to operate like a covert enemy, acting to subvert sensible processes while pretending it is intending to do some good.
August 3, 2025
@Peter Gardener +1. I’ve experienced the public health systems in Austria, France and Spain. All far better than ours I found, over periods of years living in the countries.
Now in the UK, NHS appears to deal adequately patching up RTA victims (if they survive the wait for an ambulance), but not for much else, particularly not for GP services or screening or dentistry. Spain pays less into healthcare than us, Austria more, so it’s not just a question of money. If we could only get the population to recognise this, politicians might do something.
August 3, 2025
Other countries aren’t flying in families from Gaza and putting illegal immigrants at the head of the NHS waiting lists like our government is doing. Nor do they leave their elderly lying on the floor with a broken hip, in their filth for 12 hours awaiting an ambulance, but provide a string of them to meet the illegals arriving each day. This country is disgusting and has lost its moral compass. As with most aspects of this country, we have a two-tier NHS. People need to wake up and vote out this government.
August 3, 2025
The sloppy NHS should compete against private health services for patients to keep them on their toes.
Instead charging tax for the NHS, a sensible government would allow each citizen an annual budget to spend on their health as they wish. Those with a surplus could donate it to family or friends, or receive it accrued as an enhanced pension at age 60.
People with permanent health problems would be funded by the state, as now.
August 3, 2025
What you describe is pretty much the Singapore scheme
August 3, 2025
not just dentistry, what about sight and hearing….and general former GP services are almost non-existent all over the country.
August 3, 2025
We don’t care if you’re in bed ill ….no call before 8am …no appointment
August 3, 2025
Because those who vote for Socialism are usually the young and easily impressionable. The believe all the nice things that Socialism promises. Free this and that. Take it all from the rich, they can pay for it.
This is attractive to those whi have yet had time to build wealth, a business and a family.
August 3, 2025
Health care in UK is quite a bit better than in the USA (unless you are eye-wateringly rich). Even millions of moderately rich people in the USA struggle to be able to afford medical treatment for something serious with serious consequences.
August 3, 2025
Going by the waistlines of Americans and streets full of junkies, they don’t need better healthcare so much as better looking after themselves.
August 3, 2025
Part of that is because Americans are so depressed / unhappy – they over-eat to compensate. The fantasy of the American ‘dream’ that some on the right here in the UK fall for. But even if you eat healthily in USA, and have quite a lot of money, you can still end up in deep trouble if you end up ill in the USA. So our healthcare system way better than in the USA. Rather, Americans need to learn from us on this issue at least.
August 4, 2025
we are steadily becoming like USA…private paid for medicare. The poorer ( or black) population don’t have any medicare. Our GP contracts and intention is to starve us into accepting a consulting situation where we have no services rights anymore.
August 3, 2025
Less food and more movement is needed & in the UK too. Even children as young as 7 or 8. Perhaps one or to fatties when I was at school not say 40% or so as now!
August 3, 2025
@Peter Gardner – the manipulation of ‘We will keep you safe’, the first thing lost is your freedom, freedom of choice. We can keep you safe if you do what I personally wish.
August 3, 2025
Some socialism is a good thing, but not to the extent of being an all-consuming ideology.
In the case of healthcare, you want children to be looked after, whether or not their parents can afford to get them treated privately. You want the care of people whose illnesses or disabilities make them unable to hold down a regular job that pays for it. A&E really needs to be a national service. This needs taxation.
Other aspects could be served by the private sector. You could allow employees with a suitable company scheme to opt out of the NHS, with tax benefits, rather than stifle such schemes by incorrectly calling them “benefits”. The risk of RTA and sports injuries could be covered by insurance, again treated privately. Lifestyle disease treatment could be paid for by the individuals themselves or by crowd-funding assuming they can garner sympathy.
You could end the era of NHS strikes, as who would go on strike when they are caring for sick children?
It will never happen when politicians are dead scared of the charge of running down the NHS.
August 3, 2025
“Some socialism is a good thing.”
Not at all, some kindness, generosity and sensible charity is a good thing socialism is never so. Being “generous” with other people’s earning just makes everyone poorer, encourages fecklessness and deters people from working. Doom loop economics as we see with Labour now!
August 3, 2025
The problem is that water ‘rates’ used to be included in the rates bill. Now separated it represents a huge increase in rates, and the quality of our water has reduced to Continental standards.
We still hate the railways, still want viable cars and useable roads.
However the Government remains wedded to ‘trying to reverse the momentum of the market and changing demands’ and still offers bribes (subsidies) paid for by the ever dwindling number of taxpayers to achieve their arbitrary aims. Captured Regulators, captured Courts, they use all the levers of power to coerce us into obeying and accepting low world standards and paying top dollar for them.
So like the Hobson’s Choice facing us at elections, no matter whether privatised or nationalised, Britains industries are not delivering and the costs are unsustainable.
August 3, 2025
@Lynn Atkinson – the Socialist WEF concept that they can control the market place only if they control your personal choice, to make your choice you only choice. The person in the mirror is no longer responsible for your life
August 3, 2025
Hobsons choice no choice just the horse you are given so you do not piss the. about deciding which one was best. An inn in Cambridge was it not.
You get the uni party mass low skilled immigration, the EU, Net Zero, big government, vastly high taxes, damaging lockdowns, damaging dangerous Covid “Vaccines” with almost zero getting compensation, a worship of the dire NHS, nearly all schools state run… the totally wrong headed uni-party!
August 3, 2025
National Socialist – the WEF.
However, they can take a leap.
I am responsible for myself.
The people of Britain are responsible for Britain.
August 3, 2025
Kemi today in the Telegraph.
“Labour has not learned from Truss’s mistakes”
Truss and Kwasi Kemi were broadly right Kemi, she just hit the vast mountain of debt and QE built up by Sunak as Chancellor under Boris this mainly wasted doing vast net harm with lockdowns, covid loans and net harm Covid “vaccines”.
This also made worse by Tory MPs resenting member’s choosing Truss rather than Socialist net zero globalist Sunak and gross incompetence (or perhaps worse) from Bailey and the dire BoE.
Kemi needs to learn this and that we must ditch net zero, the ECHR and vastly cut immigration levels the size of the state. She is not even at first base yet. Trump explained it all in simple words to the deaf two Tier Kier at his golf club! But Kemi seems to not to be listening either.
August 3, 2025
Truss fell flat on her face. She announced her laudable tax-cutting budget without the other important policy on the other side – spending constraint. Indeed she offered an unlimited energy price cap. She did all this in a way calculated to insult and provoke the blob – had she not noticed its power? To confirm her manifest unsuitability as leader and PM she then promptly U-turned in a panic to try to save her own skin while ditching Kwarteng. She was an utterly unstable choice and her selection in preference to Sunak led directly to the abysmal Labour govt we now have – and may well get a 2nd term of.
August 3, 2025
I meant an unsuitable choice. No reason to think Mrs Truss is or was unstable.
August 3, 2025
@Lifelogic – how did the Markets and the BoE know how to manipulate the markets the day before Truss was elected. The so-called Truss failures were set in stone by those that saw their their personal life style and authority being questioned the day before Truss was announced as PM
August 3, 2025
Correct she made errors by not announcing cuts and her energy subsidies were daft but the bonfire was built by Boris, Sunak, BoE incompetence(?) debt and QE!
August 3, 2025
Your history of Nationalistion failure indictes the failure of UK Government management of industry rather than the concept of tax payer ownership of companies. Why did Germany and Japan not have these issues after the second world war? Why is China and India and dare I mention Russia performing better than the UK now ?
And if these industries were doing fine, why were they Nationalised in the first place. Private investment and competion does not appear to have worked either in regard to modernisation.
But no matter private of state owned competition from outside the UK has been a major factor in UK industrial decline. The wonderful freedom of choice, free market forces, etc. all helped the decline.
The Nationalised Post Office invented the world’s first electronic computer.
Uk Government’s are not good at investing tax payer money in Engineering projects that work. I wonder why that is ?
PS. The railway had competition from the car. Why did we scrap electric trams ?
August 3, 2025
JM
Why did we scrap Trams/Trolly buses ?
Yes remember them well.
I guess at the time they were regarded as too expensive and inefficient.
Now we are putting in ugly and costly overhead gantry to power electric trains.
The old 1950 ‘s milk float technology is now being used in a modified form to power electric cars.
Were we ahead of our time 75 years ago ?
Or
Have we got it wrong now ?
August 3, 2025
Well a tram is just a bus that can only run on fixed track routes – surely a bus is thus much cheaper and more flexible too. Especially an old Routemaster with no rear doors! Not the absurd new baking hot Boris ones!
August 3, 2025
The Dutch seem to run buses and trams in a logical and integrated way.
The support for the over head wire a very light arm off no more than a lamp post. But the Dutch are more engineering orientated then this country is now.
I guess they have to be otherwise they would be under the North Sea.
August 3, 2025
@B A – the 696 was how I got to the swimming pool in the winter months, no pollution at the delivery end just a smooth quiet ride.
August 3, 2025
Emissions elsewhere vehicles usually more emissions if you do the sums!
August 3, 2025
@JM – UK Governments and their Blob don’t have the ability to manage, even now they cant manage expenditure.
Germany, reminds me of VW, taken over by the British Army turned into a full blown profitable company with its ownership handed to the workforce – the government was kept well clear.
August 3, 2025
Did you ever see the film Genevieve? Similar issues plague trams today: I very recently saw a report on why they are being phased out in Calcutta with 41 lines now reduced to 3.
August 3, 2025
Yes, the NHS should be studied at universities worldwide as to how an organisation should not be run. It is the biggest drug buyer in the world and can therefore theoretically dictate prices but it gets ripped off at every turn.
Either it’s incompetence or someone us profiting from it
I think a more suitable question is why in some areas has privatisation failed. This can be pinpointed to when one T Bluar allowed foreign players to purchase companies through debt financing. They bleached industries dry for example Thames Water and the taxpayer is left responsible. The same with steel
We have been and continue to be badly served by the uniparty in Westminster.
I see demonstrations are taking place around the country by faaaar right citizens against channel paddlers receiving 4 star treatment at taxpayer expense. Maybe the worm is turning.
August 3, 2025
“What went wrong”
The simple answer, Politicians thought they knew better than anyone in Commercial management, they thought throwing huge sums of money at all projects was the solution, when what was really needed was experienced business management skills, with some tough decisions needing to be made when old systems fail, when old methods and markets die and new ones open up.
Sometimes speed in the commercial world when making decisions is of the essence when markets change, and politicians do not do thinking at speed, many would far sooner speak to a thousand people first, rather than take on responsibility for any action.
August 3, 2025
You ask the question, to which the answer is just about everything.
August 3, 2025
Sir John, the debate if there is one comparing nationalisation with private business is a false one.
It is like comparing nursing and architecture. If you try hard you will find areas of overlap but it is a false comparison, a pointless exercise.
The nationalised industries management have one objective to maintain that organisation no matter what. The private business is totally focused on profit and rightly so because without it they are no longer a business.
Those two objectives are not in any way identical and never create a common management ethos.
The truth is, businesses are nationalised when they cease to be profitable but are considered strategically essential.
The real debate is why do government consider certain activities strategically essential while they dismiss others as unimportant?
Why is the NHS never challenged about its role in the nations health? No matter we now have a record nyumber of people on disability benefits we continue to give the NHS an in creasing portion of state money to make the health of the nation worse!
The judiciary is a state controlled industry that is failing and has failed with trials taking years to prosecute. Nothing is ever said about this national disgrace. The legal system is broken with criminals given more rights than the victims at every time of asking.
The list of failures is endless but they are sacred and must be state controlled, apparently.
Until that sacred right to exist and sacred right to state funds is challenged we will have no benefit from debating Private versus Public business control. It is the ongoing argument between capitalism and communism. It will never stop.
August 3, 2025
Good morning
World War Two.
After that we had industries that were shattered and needed major investment. Huge debt. An Empire that was the source of our wealth and power dismantled and the markets opened up to the USA. On top of this our future competitors were given softer terms on loans which meant they could rebuild faster, the Japanese especially.
This why I am against wars where we are not directly threatened.
August 3, 2025
What went wrong with nationalisation ? Same as what went wrong with privatisation (water, rail). Incompetent management, over regulation, destructive unions, etc.
August 3, 2025
At one point in my life, I used to regularly attend a well known hospital in London for checkups. This usually involved a whole day, as you would register on arrival, then wait to be called, only to be sent off to another department for various scans/photometry. Arriving at these other departments, you were told to find a seat and wait to be called. Eventually you were seen and the examination took place. You then returned to ‘base’ and waited to be sent elsewhere for something else.
I remember waiting for a scan in a small room (with receptionist counter) and about six other patients, when an elderly man and his son arrived. The son checked his father in and then an open discussion ensued with the father commenting what a scruffy place this was and why were they here with “all these other people”. The son was obviously embarrassed but not for long as they were the next patient called. Everyone looked at each other and eyebrows were raised. After 20 minutes the receptionist announced the Radiologist had gone to lunch and they would ‘reopen’ at 2.00pm! As you can imagine – not everyone was happy with this.
I often think of this when people talk about the NHS not being “privatised” because quite clearly it already is, at least for some.
August 3, 2025
The Attlee Govt – much praised, perhaps out of nostalgia for the era – was probably the most economically damaging in British history. The meta lesson from this is that Labour governments always do immense long term damage, which can and does take decades to repair and reverse. Conservative govts can also be ineffectual and foolish, as we have seen in recent years. But they are nothing like as bad as Labour.
Off topic, I see that it is reported that Nadine Dorries, original architect of the appalling online safety bill, now being used to crush free speech, has felt obliged to organise an exorcism in a house. How can such a person have become a minister of the Crown, and under a Conservative govt?
August 3, 2025
Everything was wrong with nationalisation. The egotistical thought that someone with no experience, no expertise could run something, better than the successful ones, is a fail. Then the thought that they, the egotists, could effectively control what has always been the World Markets to get their own way – is ludicrous.
There might have been a well meaning thought of preserving jobs behind it, but the next stage is/has always been less well conceived, too flim-flam, too hypocritical and for the most part too ‘personal’ very ‘personal, in conception and direction to achieve any long-term result, a stand-alone entity that could move forward. All it has been about is the ‘Me’ and the next GE, not really those that take the brunt of the absuse, the people that do.
The Socialist concept of market manipulation to gain an advantage always fails, controlling currency, controlling stock markets, always fails, controlling markets, market manipulation are all fails. To many religious freaks that go on their annual pilgrimages to their WEF Socialist get together, think that they can create World Government, that their Socialist ideals can control the World, a Socialist Government in their own very personal image. Those that think of the ‘Collective’ in my image only fail. There are 7 billion individuals out there with 7 billion different sets of needs and priorities ignore that you fail, 7 billion abilities and 7 billion ways to contribute, ignore that with a one size fits all you fail. The UK Government its MP’s, their WEF Religion all preach this one size fits all and even worse only in their own personal image religion as the only things that should be allowed.
The World is lead by 7 billion consumers, try to manipulate that you fail.
August 3, 2025
There are examples where Socialist manipulation that is attacking the fabric of Society. It is not just how Industry and enterprise is run and the market. It is how people think, if you don’t abide to the Marxist central command thought of the day, you are an outlier and have to be stopped.
It has now evolved into the Government using taxpayer money to take the fight to the people with what some call a ‘disinformation unit’. In essence it as JD Vance has pointed out it is ‘Free Speech’ under attacking by the UK Legislators, I don’t say Government because for it to happen more the 50% of those involved as the UK Legislators are agreeing there should be no ‘Free Speech’, just around 700 +1 measly thoughts and it becomes the imposition on 70million
Free Speech is not some airy-fairy idea, it taps into the very being of the people and society, we prosper and move forward by being challenged, that’s not just our abilities, but our religion political and other wise (politics is a religion like all religions). Challenging others views is one thing criminalising them is a whole different ball game. All assumed authorities need to be challenged, it would be nice if it was always through the ballot box, but as we know the UK’s Legislators have torn up the usual democratic rules by ensuring they do not need to seek approval as is the norm in a democracy every 2 years, but if it is now even allowed ever 5 years.
You can now only protest if the Politburo deems it in their personal interest, every thing else is criminal.
Be very afraid
August 3, 2025
At the heart of all of this is the Socialist premise that the State always knows better than the individual, which was a view broadly shared by Labour and Conservatives in the years after the war; Harold Macmillan’s views on de-nationalisation were clearly expressed many years later as: ‘Selling off the family silver’. It took Mrs Thatcher, helped by people such as Keith Joseph and yourself, to change this, and now it looks as if we are pretty well back where we started in 1945, with no sign of anyone of Mrs Thatcher’s vision or determination to put things right.
As others have said, with the State involved in ownership, commercial imperatives fall far behind the need to keep the work force happy, the customer is nowhere, and all nationalised industries are at the mercy of any minister keen on self aggrandisement vanity projects, of which your description of the newly nationalised steel industry is a clear example.
As for the coal mines, nationalisation was a good example, just like the NHS today, of Government failure to face up to reality: coal mines were already entering the inevitable period of decline as they were being worked out. My colliery owning relations were thrilled to bits to receive a substantial payment, largely in Government stock admittedly, for something they knew would quite soon would not just be worthless, but they would be saddled with the ongoing liability of keeping the worked out pits safe. If the post war Governments had had any sense and foresight, instead of nationalising the coal industry, they would have devoted the money to doing something about providing different forms of employment in the mining areas.
August 3, 2025
Well said.
Particularly the coal owning ancestors
August 3, 2025
The UK government was importing Polish coal in the 1980s, long after your colliery owning relations had been bought out.
Better to use home produced fuel and keep people employed and mining areas viable.
August 3, 2025
Energy imports from France interconnector back over 20% today
https://grid.iamkate.com/
August 3, 2025
at 19.32 it is 24% of our demand, and charged at £97.44/MWh.
August 3, 2025
….and the French can throw that switch anytime they like
August 4, 2025
and if we upset Putin enough so might the Russians!
August 3, 2025
Politician and their big ideas is what went wrong, no difference from today and their bad ideas and private companies seem too follow suit, nothing much from them just slow decline like the country, then there is the 25 billion a year for AI, must be supporting most of jobs in that industry out of taxes so new nationalistion are still with you. Idea that you can have full employment on the taxpayers is still alive.
August 3, 2025
Off Topic.
A number of migrants were moved into the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf on Saturday. Images showed a bus dropping off the group in the early hours, days after protests had been held outside the hotel.
The protests were held in late July amid reports that the Government was planning to use the hotel as temporary accommodation for migrants. A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said at the time: “We are aware of the Government’s decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
“It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.”
…and now the blame shifting:
Addressing concerns that many homeless in Britain could be left competing with migrants for accommodation space, the Prime Minister said: “I know, which is why I am so furious at the last Government for leaving tens of thousands of asylum seekers unprocessed, with nowhere to live, other than accommodation paid for by the taxpayer.” He added: “There is a lot of housing and many local authorities that can be used. We’re identifying where it can be used.”