When Margaret Thatcher privatised water and rail, she made one fundamental error, quite apart from the fact that it is totally unacceptable to privatise public services.
She did so in a manner that meant that there was no competition involved, so breaking a basic law of private investment and making it inevitable that we would all be exploited, contaminated, left with crumbling infrastructure.
Quite right! There was no consultation, just an outright autonomous decision to privatise the service. It was unlawful, despicable and should have been opposed at every stage.
E coli pollution in the water off Hastings beach, caused by a sewage dump by Southern Water gave me an ear infection which lead to a perforated ear drum. I now wear hearing aids. That's just one small example of the problems our out-of-control water companies are creating. The Uk has the most privatised water system IN THE WORLD and it isn't serving our needs - in fact it's damaging people and the environment. While the CEOs of the companies and their share holders get richer. And then they put the prices up for consumers.
The bosses of privatised utility companies have received huge bonuses and/or pensions. They should be encouraged to pay back some of this money retrospectively as they have not done the job they were paid to do. Also shareholders have received big dividends and should be penalised similarly. Water cleanliness, availability and waste disposal are fundamental rights which we (a first world country) are being denied.
Comments
Helena 1 month ago
When Margaret Thatcher privatised water and rail, she made one fundamental error, quite apart from the fact that it is totally unacceptable to privatise public services.
She did so in a manner that meant that there was no competition involved, so breaking a basic law of private investment and making it inevitable that we would all be exploited, contaminated, left with crumbling infrastructure.
So no wonder we’re in such a mess!
Reply
Kenneth Grade 1 month ago
Quite right! There was no consultation, just an outright autonomous decision to privatise the service. It was unlawful, despicable and should have been opposed at every stage.
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Maggie Alderson 1 month ago
E coli pollution in the water off Hastings beach, caused by a sewage dump by Southern Water gave me an ear infection which lead to a perforated ear drum. I now wear hearing aids. That's just one small example of the problems our out-of-control water companies are creating. The Uk has the most privatised water system IN THE WORLD and it isn't serving our needs - in fact it's damaging people and the environment. While the CEOs of the companies and their share holders get richer. And then they put the prices up for consumers.
Reply
Christine Maloney 1 month ago
Neoliberalism has failed the UK
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TONY J GRIFFIN 1 month ago
Totally agree
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Robert G Davies 1 month ago
We must return our utilities to public ownership.
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Clare Nesbitt 1 month ago
Keep water clean
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Michael Dickins 1 month ago
Privation should/never be an option for any public facilities.! When will our government
ever learn. Unlikely!!!
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Gwyn Birt 1 month ago
I totally agree with your comments regarding privatisation
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Dawn Shoard 1 month ago
The bosses of privatised utility companies have received huge bonuses and/or pensions. They should be encouraged to pay back some of this money retrospectively as they have not done the job they were paid to do. Also shareholders have received big dividends and should be penalised similarly.
Water cleanliness, availability and waste disposal are fundamental rights which we (a first world country) are being denied.
Reply