Industrial Strategy

Why Don’t We Renationalise All Utilities?

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For much of the last forty years, Britain’s economic direction appeared settled. Governments argued about tax rates, spending priorities and public services, but the broad framework changed little. Privatisation, deregulation, competition, independent regulation, free trade and globalisation became part of the political consensus. Even Labour governments largely accepted the settlement created during the Thatcher years. … Read more

Britain Has Nationalised Steel Again — Why Did Nobody Notice?

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I used to work in Redcar. Every morning I would drive past the steelworks. It dominated the landscape, physically and psychologically. You could see it from miles away: towers, chimneys, flames, steam, conveyors, endless geometry in rust red and grey. Whatever else Teesside was, it was a place that made things. Even if you never … Read more