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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Anna Leach

Five British nationalisations – and what happened next

The British state has a long history of intervention into private businesses and organisations, stretching back as far as Henry VIII’s selling off of land and assets belonging to the Catholic church.
The British state has a long history of intervention into private businesses and organisations, stretching back as far as Henry VIII’s selling off of land and assets belonging to the Catholic church. Composite: Guardian

Many are calling for change in England’s private water sector. But what should replace it?

Is the answer the state buying back the water companies? Or would that simply land the public sector with the problems created by wealthy owners, who would walk away with a payout? And if nationalisation did come back on the table, as it did in Labour’s 2017 manifesto, how much compensation should be paid to English water’s current owners?

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