Reader's letter

Renationalise the water industry

Why is no one stating the bleeding obvious over responsibility for the unprecedented floods?

Before the water industry was privatised, water boards were responsible for seeing that rivers were regularly maintained.

But when water was privatised, these elected officials were replaced with a lot of venture capitalists (or 'Spivs') from the City, who, expecting to make a profit, found that you can't actually run a public utility at a profit unless you dump some expensive, but vital, functions - like maintenance.

Water must be renationalised immediately, without compensation for the fat cats who have had enough out of us already. If anyone owes anybody compensation, it's the fat cats who owe us!

Keith J Ackermann

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.