Now we're going back to the 1970s

[DoctorStrangelove]

the biggest error or short coming in right to by, is not building a new home for every one sold

The Thatcher Imperium specifically prevented councils doing that. Another of her brilliant ideas.

[xoggoth]

I'm a righty but not sure privatising some major utilities was a good idea. Profit should not be the prime motivation for some core systems. I did some contracts for the CEGB. Salaries were rather high but it was an efficient organisation. If Thatcher had not broken it up we might be able to build our own nuclear power stations, not go cap in hand to the Chinese or France's EDF, a largely state controlled company.

[ladymuck]

There were 20 candidates (including Khan and Binface) - are you saying the other 18 were all "far-right nut jobs"? I suspect at the very least, the Tories and Lib Dems might quibble with that description.

I can't remember who all of the candidates were; it's not something I bothered to commit to memory. I just know that there were many rocks and many hard places and not one candidate was a viable package for the job.

[xoggoth]

Inneresting that even the righty Daily Express seems in favour of greater public control of utilities.

Andy Burnham's talked tough on utilities – now's his chance for action | Politics | News | Express.co.uk

[Paddy]

GBP up from 1.15 to 1.18 Euro

[jamesbrown]

GBP up from 1.15 to 1.18 Euro

Unwinding of the Chancellor Millipede short positions.

[Protagoras]

I'm a righty but not sure privatising some major utilities was a good idea. Profit should not be the prime motivation for some core systems. I did some contracts for the CEGB. Salaries were rather high but it was an efficient organisation. If Thatcher had not broken it up we might be able to build our own nuclear power stations, not go cap in hand to the Chinese or France's EDF, a largely state controlled company.

I worked for CEGB and it was a great organisation. There was a huge experience base and at privatisation, a great many people walked out the door with pensions made up to retirement age, that was people in their early 50s. CEGB charged the Regional Electricity Suppliers for electricity on the basis of the cost of generation in that region.

Without privatisation, we would probably have built 7 new nuclear power stations late last century.

I see that John Healey is the latest chancellor. Whew, so glad that it's not millipede.

[malvolio]

I see that John Healey is the latest chancellor. Whew, so glad that it's not millipede.

Agreed

Also quite pleased at how many deadheads have been binned from key places in Starmer's cabinet

[xoggoth]

^Agreed ditto. What a disaster Millipede would have been.

[jamesbrown]

Agree on the above, decent appointment by Burnham - quite like Healey (as a non-Labour voter, in general). Would be willing to pay more tax for sensible stuff like defence.