3 articles on this subject, from across the site.
The government sold state-owned businesses to raise revenue and reduce state involvement in industry. Whilst privatisation brought substantial one-off money, the relationship between these sales and national debt reduction was more complex than a simple transaction.
Macquarie owned Thames Water from 2006 to 2017, investing £11 billion in infrastructure while increasing debt to £11 billion and paying £879 million in dividends, sparking debate over priorities.
Treasury short-termism, weak regulation, privatisation without oversight, and foreign ownership prioritising dividends have combined to underinvest in water and rail infrastructure.
