Thurrock tory led Council, after a series of disastrous investments, has a £500m deficit. Has to appeal to HMG for aid.
England's Water... the world's piggy Bank. England is one of the few countries in the world where water is privatised. 70% is foreign owned. Companies are not held to account. For leaks, sewage/water purification or new reservoirs. Big profits with lots of money going overseas
Will never happen. Electoral suicide. I can see them moving to a model similar to wonderful perfect Germany and France, but the whole thing? No chance. They'd be turfed out of office never to return and the next government would just reverse it.
Parliament could renationalise the water industry in England without being obliged to compensate shareholders, according to previous UK court judgments cited by campaigners. Activists are putting mounting pressure on the government and opposition parties to look again at the privatised water system after criticism that the industry is not acting in the public interest. The Guardian revealed this week that more than 70% of the privatised water industry is owned by foreign investment firms, private equity, pension funds and, in some cases, businesses based in tax havens. The latest polling on nationalising energy and other key utilities, including water, shows the vast majority of the public are in favour and more than 200,000 people have signed a petition calling for water to be nationalised. Supporters of nationalisation cite rulings from the high court, court of appeal and European court of human rights (ECHR) on shareholders’ general rights to compensation in a nationalisation. The rulings were made in cases involving Northern Rock shareholders, who were paid zero compensation when the bank was taken into public ownership during the 2008 financial crisis. The court of appeal ruled against the shareholders, saying: “The court would only interfere if it were to conclude that the state’s judgment as to what is in the public interest is manifestly without reasonable foundation.” When the case was taken to the ECHR, the court ruled there was no general right to full market-value compensation. Judges said: “Legitimate objectives in the ‘public interest’, such as those pursued in measures of economic reform or measures designed to achieve greater social justice, may call for less than reimbursement of the full market value.” Campaigners say the water industry should be renationalised after three decades in which the nine main water and sewerage companies have run up net debts of almost £54bn and paid out dividends of £65.9bn while overseeing a lack of investment.
We now have as many(more) former Prime Ministers as their are dwarfs in Snow White. I wonder what name is appropriate for each?
Incredibly, despite serious competition, there's only one contender for Dopey ... ... the one who was actually elected by the equally Dopey Tory membership
You know when you think you've had enough of a girlfriend and decide she's more trouble than she's worth. So despite all her good points you decide to dump her and go for a nice new girl who seems carefree and much more fun. Then, shortly after, you realise you've made a massive mistake and long for the old relationship ... ... that's Brexit
I had never had enough of the original girlfriend in the first place. It was obvious the other lass flirting was one of the ugly sisters with tons of make up everywhere.
The arguments for leaving were all emotional and exciting ... ... 'taking back our sovereignty, reclaiming our borders, freedom from bureaucracy, destiny in our own hands, free trade with the whole world', All great sounding rabble rousing rhetoric that's now as flat as a roadside hedgehog.
The briefly Chancellor Nadhil Zahawi now Tory Party Chairman, who has recently been slagging off nurses as aiding Putin. Does not have it all his own way, he has recently had to get a very expensive law firm to issue a threat against someone who is after him for some dodgy tax moves in relation to his YouGov firm. Unfortunately for Zahawi, his nemesis is Dan Neidle, who retired early to Norfolk, after earning millions as the head of a major Law Firms Tax Arm. He reckons Zahawi has deliberately illegally evaded tax. Neidle will not he says be frightened off. Another target for Neidle is Non-Dom status, which he says goes on for a ridiculous 15 years. So that's the tory chairman and PM that this guy is gunning for...Good Luck to him.
There are a lot of MPs standing down at the end of this parliament. Some very long standing, and experienced, MPs among them. It seems to me that we will end up with more inexperienced MPs in key positions, without the wise old heads to lend them an ear. I worry about the state of our politicians and their ability to serve. For some it doesnt really seem a life calling anymore, but a stepping stone.
Sajid Javid who has announced he is standing down from being a MP. Has apparently been hawking his CV around Pimco an American Fixed Income Investment Company.
I had thought more conservatives would step down to be honest. Some of the newer MPs have a very defeated look. Credit to them if they carry their fight again, albeit it seems a lost cause.