Haigh to fast-track historic rail nationalisation scheme

Radical plan demonstrates the sheer scale of our ambition to rebuild Britain’, transport secretary tells The Independent

- DAVID MADDOX , ARCHIE MITCHELL

Labour is fast-tracking plans to prove its socialist credentials by passing laws that will see Britain’s railways renationalised before the next general election.

The plans to bring “broken” private rail ownership back into the public sector would mean a programme of nationalisation on a scale not seen since before John Major aggressively privatised the railways in the 1990s. Legislation going before MPs today will see rail lines brought back into public control when contracts with operators come to an end.

New transport secretary Louise Haigh has dubbed herself “the passenger in chief” as she leads the overhaul but rail companies have said the project is political rather than practical, and claim it will increase costs over time. Shadow transport secretary Helen Whately added that “passengers will pay the price”.

Allies of Ms Haigh have said the bill is part of a “radical agenda which has not been picked up in the media” and proves doubters of Labour’s socialist credentials wrong. Legislation enabling communities to take control of local buses will be introduced later in the parliament.

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill – the government’s first major piece of legislation – will be the biggest nationalisation programme since the 1970s before Margaret Thatcher started mass privatisation of public services across the board.