Sold off in the 1980s and 90s under Conservative prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, state-run utilities and British Rail were split into several companies, unleashing fresh investment but also huge executive bonuses, shareholder dividends and massive debts.
Thames Water on Monday also noted that it would need a further £2.5 billion of support between 2025 and 2030.The government of Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had said the crisis at Thames Water -- the company has debts of £14 billion -- is a matter for the company and shareholders despite reports the state made contingency plans for temporary control.
There have been calls also for renationalisation of Royal Mail, crippled over the past year by postal workers striking over pay. The NHS, which relies on private-sector investment as well as taxes and state borrowing to run, has also accumulated a huge debt and is operating out of numerous crumbling hospitals while patients are waiting record-long times to be treated.