Britain’s House of Commons has approved the first significant public service reform introduced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, less than two months after his election victory. The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, aimed at renationalizing the country’s railways, passed its third reading and will proceed to the House of Lords.
The Labour Party government is facing criticism from the Conservative opposition, which governed from 2010 until their heavy defeat in a July 4 snap election. The Conservatives argue that the move prioritizes socialist ideology over cost-efficiency.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, who led the bill through the Commons, claims the overhaul will reduce the chaos, delays, and disruptions plaguing passengers. She argues that the establishment of Great British Railways is pivotal in creating a unified railway system, combining rail track and train operations under one public entity.
Junior transport minister Simon Lightwood says Labour is also considering introducing a pay review body for public sector rail workers to streamline the process of satisfying union pay demands and reduce strike-related disruptions.
The post-war socialist government nationalized much of Britain’s rail network in 1948. By the 1960s, over half of the country’s railway stations were closing down, with privatization commencing in the 1990s.
