Forum Topic

NATS and privatisation

Just for clarity, having read the implied criticism of privatisation of this country’s air traffic control system in Guy Lambert’s latest ramblings, it should be noted that the PFI legislation was initiated and implemented in the 2000 Transport Act. That was a Labour Government, with Blair and Brown at the helm. Not quite the triumph of public-private partnership they promised.Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.I dislike the Tories but to claim either side has moral authority/superior knowledge/better policies, etc is just nonsense.

Simon Hayes ● 604d4 Comments

There are around 650,000 members of the three main political parties in the UK according to the House of Commons library. I discount the SNP and Plaid Cymru because they aren’t UK wide parties.Labour has the biggest proportion of that, around 430,000, yet hadn’t won a General Election in 18+ years. Even then it was just a Tory-lite party run by Phony Tony and his chums. Starmer is only leader because the party realised that left-wing twerps like Corbyn and McDonnell are unelectable nationally.But the point is these are tiny groups of not very like-minded people (eg Labour’s stance on ULEZ). We always end up with bad decisions, locally and nationally, but these decisions are defended to the hilt by the membership because to be seen doing otherwise is to admit fallibility. And then when the other lit get in and don’t change the policy the previous lot condemn them. It would be funny if it wasn’t so damaging.Obviously time for reform of the political system but it won’t happen.And for Lambert to accuse people of ‘bias’ is laughable. Anyone who isn’t a paid up member of a political club is capable of independent thought, rather than signing up to support dogma. Perhaps he should sort his own bias out before accusing others.

Simon Hayes ● 603d

Nothing fabricated about the fact that the last Labour shower of guano privatised NATS in 2001 and the current shower of guano masquerading as a government perpetuated the under investment. However the problem was initiated by Labour's privatisation as were many of the issues coming home to roost with PFI initiatives under Labour (otherwise known as mortgaging your grandchildren's future) which make RAAC look like a minor issue.

N V Brooks ● 604d

And make up bias!

Guy Lambert ● 604d

Very true. However people have short memories.

Nicholas Beard ● 604d