Errrrr.... When were we asked about this?

I've just voted to re nationalise the entire rail network, that'll annoy Pete

 

PURDAH
The Government has recently announced that pre-election purdah before the next general election will begin on 30 March 2015, the same day as the dissolution of Parliament.

Still think we should have been asked first, Mind you they have just flogged the East Coast Rail to Virgin and ECT, After five profitable years in the public sector

Jack McH

 

Told em not to renew the lease on that one, we would have got it back into public ownership for nothing that way, but do they listen to me

 

Hate to tell you this ... they are not selling it off ... it is sold already!
Bidding began last October (I believe) so well within the 6 month threshold.
And, as for when you were asked it about it ... think back ... the last election

 

FC Buy shares in the private company
The GOV always sells things at quarter value, so shares would increase 66% overnight

Jack McH

 

Yep, lets concrete it over, turn it into roads.

Railways are a Victorian invention, well passed their sell by date, costly to maintain and should we really have so many commuters in this technological age where we can "work from home", by golly.
As for Eurostar, nobody wants it to go North of London anyway, so the fact that it carved up half of Kent was a waste of time.

 

My understanding is that, in this particular instance, they actually achieved above expectations in terms of value

 

Yes M, They were going to give it away for 20% but got offered 25% :-)

A bit like Brian Epstein with the Beatles, selling the film rights to the Mercans
Unknown to him the Mercans had decided they would not pay a cent more than 20%

Einstein walked in and banged on the table I will accept "Not a penny less than 5%" :-)

Sold

Jack McH

 

The electorate where reeling from the financial crisis which left *everyone* wondering what could/would happen next!
Every man has to budget (to which degree is a personal choice) and the one thing every one understood was - we were up the creek without an apparent paddle!
No wonder no one knew which party to go for!!

However, the majority of people have internet - this empowered them to make choices based on historical data (if nothing else!) on which way to hang their hat. Equally, a goodly amount of people didn't do their research and just reacted on a TV debate (shallow, but, predictable).

Nothing that is happening now is a bolt out of the blue.

But, that is my final comment on the matter