I heard on the radio this morning that the government is thinking of turning various sectors of public service into John Lewis type employee co-operatives. The existing employees of, say, Bogsville’s Probationary Service will be able to come forward with a business plan and show how they can run the service better. This was presented as new thinking.
Really, have we forgotten British Rail already? That monolith was fragmented and flogged off at knock-down prices. Managers and staff were pressed to buy the bits and pieces, and some did. What happened? After running their bit for a year or two, they sold it on to some commercial outfit and made a mint. Did it improve Britain’s railway? Not really, but the new millionaires were happy. So, in three or four years shall we hear, ‘fancy buying a probation service, anyone?’
I wonder, is having learning difficulties an essential qualification in politics?
Boadicea's Chariot 
In answer to your ultimate question, I always presumed it was a prerequisite.
OZ
Hello Tom. I was about to echo OZ, he got in before me.
Tom politicians are people that no one else would ever employ. until they are out of government and can open doors for them, then the big money roles in. AKA Bliar.
I mean would any one here actually pay to listen to this grinning baboon flap his gob while his pig ugly spouse watches on.
Rick, I take it you’re not a fan.
Tom what gives you that idea?
Just a wild guess.
It would be an interesting project to make a list of lying, cheating, thieving bast…..sorry, politicians, who have changed legislation as ministers to favour one section of industry and then left politics to take up a board position in one of the said companies.
hmm you could be right.
But in fairness I dislike all of them. This lot the last lot, the EU lot. All useless and the main reason we are now all in financial trouble
Nationalise coal didn’t work either, funny how Celtic Energy manage to make a decent profit still in the old anthracite field despite the Govt doing everything they could to kill them off!
Learning difficulties?
Do us a favour, absolute mongers, most need putting down.
you wouldn’t even keep a sheep with that IQ.
Nationalise anything and it becomes a public liability and a political football.
Politicians are like people who go on ‘The Apprentice’ they all seem to have inflated ideas of their own worth.
There needs to a really tough selection process before anyone is allowed to ‘put up’ as a politician. The initial entry requirements: (a) At least 40 years old (b) held down a proper job for at least 15 years.
I sure you can all think of others
I think all serious activities should be privatised – like Royalty, for example. We should have the Goldman Sachs Royal Wedding and in due course the Cow and Gate little Windsors. You know it makes sense.
Will and Katie could ‘sell’ their wedding for a fortune, imagine the possibilities, the actual wedding spectacular, invite hundreds of A list Celebs who would pay for their seats , lots of background progs. The mind boggles.
Hydra, the Mr Kipling Wedding Cake – a seriously good cake. 🙂
Did it improve Britain’s railway?
If you can remember the shambles it was before privatisation, the answer is definitely yes. However, that does not mean that the privatisation was implemented as effectively as it should have been.
FEG, the privatisation process was a complete farce, driven by political considerations rather than commercial. They fragmented the system unnecessarily with little regard to the possible effects on safety, or the passengers’ need for a coherent service. You may think matters have improved, but those passengers who are being ripped off every day for bad service might disagree.