So, has one of my political heroes been reading my blog? I suspect not. But he – Ken Livingstone – has made a very convincing argument about the railways on the Guardian’s website today. He has argued that the government should not only have nationalised the National Express franchise but the rest of the railways also. This goes very much against the received political wisdom of the age. Privatisation, where banks aren’t involved at least, is the mantra now.
Livingstone’s argument can be summed up with this excerpt, brilliant because it simply vapourises the best arguments of his opponents;
There are many publicly-owned rail companies all over the world that provide services that British transport users can only envy. The task is to build up good quality management, including the best management from around the world, overseeing real investment that meets the needs of rail travellers.
Having experienced the vast improvements to public transport in London during the time he was mayor, I’m sure Livingstone is on the right track (excuse the pun). The other day I said that I didn’t mind whether the solution to the UK’s public transport issues was based in the private sector or the public sector. I have now changed my mind. The railways should be nationalised.
