Dear
Jack,
The Tories have sold-off our critical
national infrastructure. Our electricity grid. Our gas distribution
network. Our water and sewage. Our power stations, including nuclear,
gas, coal and biomass. It is a national scandal.
Even worse, most of them have been sold
to overseas owners. So while prices have soared during the worst
energy crisis in decades, foreign investors have got rich at our
expense.
It also means we have no control over
our critical infrastructure. The government have compromised our
national security. No other country has sold off the critical
utilities that ensure the continuity of daily life. The Tories
betrayal of Britain knows no bounds.
Our nuclear & coal power stations
are 100% foreign owned. Our gas pipe network is 89% foreign owned. Our
gas power stations are 85% foreign owned. Our offshore wind turbines
are 83% foreign owned. Our electricity network is 79% foreign
owned.
The profit margins for some are over
40%. That’s a vast profit for any business, let alone a monopoly,
where customers have no choice and there is no competition. We’ve been
completely ripped off.
So billions of pounds of our money goes
overseas every year. The biggest single investor is a Chinese
businessman. He has received £2 billion in payments so far. Last year
he drew a £237 million dividend, when millions of British people were
cold, poor and hungry. Many still are.
This is utterly unacceptable. It’s also
downright dangerous. The Chinese Communist Party controls the
businesses interests of its nationals. That means they can control the
UK power network.
There are lots of other lucky winners
in the government’s multi-billion pound utility give-away. The French
Government. A Spanish Utility company, part-owned by BlackRock. German
stock-holders. Canadian pension funds. The Qatari Investment Authority
and many more.
In fact 87% of all our monopolies are
overseas owned. Some of these companies have loaded up with high
interest shareholder loans. But if they go bust, the British tax-payer
still pays their debts.
And what do we get for our money? The
worst customer service for years. Power shortages. Neglect of ageing
networks. Raw sewage pumped into the sea. Nearly 660 million gallons
of water lost to leaks every day. That’s what asset-stripping looks
like.
The regulators have been asleep at the
wheel. They’ve also let bills go through the roof. Even a former
government advisor says the regulators aren’t fit for
purpose.
But how about the renewables industry
that the government praises so much? Around 83% of our renewable
infrastructure is also overseas owned. Much of it by the Denmark
Government.
And all this, when we have a national
treasure beneath our feet – decades of cheap, sustainable, shale gas.
This shambolic government have utterly betrayed our country. With
Labour it’s all just warm words and waffle.
Only reform UK will take back control
of our critical infrastructure. We will nationalise 50% of key utility
companies to stop consumers being ripped off. The other 50% will be
owned by British pension funds. This is a win-win. Consumers will
benefit from lower prices and better management, with private sector
expertise from the pension funds. It’s also the right thing to
do.
The Tories have sold Britain. They gave
away our critical infrastructure and often at rock bottom prices.
Those we trusted to stop them did nothing. But be in no doubt. We will
end this scandal. Never again will hard-working British people go cold
in the winter, while the government gives our money away to their
billionaire friends. Change is coming. Only RTeform UK has the bold
leadership and proper management that our country needs. Only we will
Make Britain great.
Richard Tice
Reform
UK Leader
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