Re: Budget 2017
 

To unravel it you just take back control as the franchises expire. We already own Network Rail so the initial cost will be buying rolling stock and setting up a body to manage it all which can merge with Network Rail. I think fundamentally we need to have the people who manage the trains, track and own the trains all under one body.

The NHS is a different topic but I think behind all the concerns about the use of private companies, reorganisations, levels or lack thereof of middle men the biggest problem is money. The pressures of an ageing and obese population combined with the cost of all the new treatments that keep us all live longer. It could be more efficient too but it would be interesting to compare it's waste to other health systems. Still the NHS is a huge further topic :D

Re: Budget 2017
 

That takes years and still leaves all the privatised utilities to buy back at massive cost plus having to explain the inevitable tax rises which will result. By the time all that's done the government responsible has likely gone so unless both sides agree on the way forward for the long term it falls apart. Maybe that's the reason we've always had this problem - the 2 main parties have always seen it very differently and tended to undo what the other has done.

Re: Budget 2017
 

You don't have to do the utilities as well. I am less fussed about them then the trains. It will take years but that's the least costly and disruptive way to do it and allows the government to ease into it rather than taking on the whole country in one go.

A subsequent government overturning would be a risk but if the public backs the nationalisation then it would be electoral punishing to go against it especially as it's in the process of happening. Popular measures do tend to persist.

Re: Budget 2017
 

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Budgets "have taken from the poor and given to the rich" over recent years

https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/933792426375839744

Re: Budget 2017
 

Not a surprise there as that has been happening since the year dot.

Re: Budget 2017
 

I know you don't have to do the utilities as well but that's what Corbyn has been talking about and McDonnell has been banging on about privatising water citing Paris as an example and then denying he'd ever done so. They're as cynical as they are clueless.

https://order-order.com/2017/11/22/d...nells-honesty/

If nationalisation were that popular amongst UK tax payers we wouldn't have got to this point because our governments would have had no reason to fear spending what was needed by raising taxes. The fact that elsewhere in the world people are willing to pay for these things out of the common pot doesn't mean that's the case here. Anyway, if they carry on making these claims sooner of later they're going to have to come clean about the costs and spending implications and we'll see what people vote for.

Re: Budget 2017
 

I would never wish to go back to the days of the nationalised railways, and nor would most people who remember what it was like. Grimy old trains (if you ran your finger along the interior window frame, your finger went black), old pre-war carriages, turned up sandwiches, surly staff and late running trains.

I still remember my delight at seeing those bright new trains replacing the creaking old stock after privatisation, and being amazed at the improvement of the selection of food and drink on trains. Ok, they still don't always run on time, but there are many more trains, they are longer, and they do actually try to keep up with the timetable.

There may still be faults - there are too many people standing on trains, the ticketing needs sorting out and the infrastructure still keeps letting us down, but to those who want to see the train companies nationalised, I would say be careful what you wish for! No good will come of that.

Re: Budget 2017
 

yes but always get so much worse under the nasty party Den

Re: Budget 2017
 

Yes you're right, it does under the nasty party, that being currently the Labour Party in association with the Momentum lot.

Re: Budget 2017
 

Thing is, it's the same but older grimy trains, and a hell of a lot more expensive and crowded ! Rail privatisation had been a disaster for the passenger.

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Browser still not fixed ? How frustrating! :D

Re: Budget 2017
 

I don't know what line you are on, but all the trains in my neck of the woods are modern and clean.

I know that there are one or two unmodernised lines, but I think there are plans afoot to modernise these too. However, most of the country is in quite a good position, with up to date coaches. The old British Rail simply didn't have that sort of money to invest, and if the railways are nationalised, it's likely to happen all over again.

Re: Budget 2017
 

You need to go further afield OB as perhaps you should visit the West country and Cornwall and you will see plenty of rolling stock more then 40 years old with electrification just a distant dream despite repeated promises by politicians

Re: Budget 2017
 

Or anywhere in the North of England. Electrification plans/promises for many lines has been abandoned. The rolling stock dates from the 1970s. Different story in London of course, unlimited money for Cross Rail. Just like the rich/poor divide, the SE/anywhere else divide gets greater. Tories divide and rule, no change there.

Re: Budget 2017
 

Some people clearly don't have a clue what nasty means and we're still waiting for their examples of successful socialist states. They huff and they puff and they deny and they deflect and they hate because that's all they've got. Hypocrites of the highest order.

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Yes and why wasn't all that sorted during the 13 years of Labour when they had a parliamentary majority which meant they couldn't have been stopped and when Brown was spending money like it was going out of fashion? It didn't happen then and it wouldn't happen under those 2 Marxist dinosaurs Corbyn and McDonnell. Under them we'd wind up like Venezuela. ;)

Re: Budget 2017
 

You forgot about him selling our gold reserves at rock bottom prices. :D

But Spot on. Could not have said it any better. :)