‘Learn your history before turning water giants public again’

Thatcher adviser issues warning as majority back nationalisation

- BY STEPH SPYRO Deputy Political Editor

THE FORMER minister who helped convince Margaret Thatcher to embrace mass privatisation has warned people backing water nationalisation to “read the history books”.

Lord Redwood instead suggested the struggling sector needs a “better” regulator to allow more investment by the water industry while preventing excessive returns.

A YouGov poll found more than eight in 10 members of the public support bringing water companies into the public sector, including a majority of Reform and Conservative voters.

But Lord Redwood said: “All those who today think nationalising will make a difference should read the history books on just how bad the nationalised industry was.”