Renationalisation of energy firms slammed by Ann Widdecombe

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Former Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe reacted to poll results which showed that more than two-thirds of Conservative votes would like to see the government temporarily renationalise energy companies amid soaring energy bills. Ms Widdecombe rejected the proposal and suggested that money that would go towards compensating firms would be better spent on “relieving energy bills”. Referring to the current cost of living crisis, she argued that privatisation is not the cause of soaring energy costs, but rather governments which rely too much on foreign suppliers and “have not concentrated enough on making [themselves] self-efficient in energy”. 

Ms Widdecombe told Jeremy Vine: “I lived through public ownership, I moved through state monopolies and that is the very last thing that I ever want to see back.

“The consumer had literally no choice at all.

“Also, of course, if you’re going to nationalise it isn’t the state confiscation like it might in Russia, you’re going to have to compensate firms.”

She suggested: “I’d rather want that money that you spend in compensating the firm to be spent on relieving energy bills.

“The other thing about this is don’t just blame privatisation.

“A lot of countries at the moment have got it very much worse than we have in terms of energy because successive governments of both parties did not concentrate on making a self-sufficient in energy and allowed us to rely far too much on foreign supplies of energy”.

The comments came as a poll, released by campaigning organisation 38 Degrees, revealed that more than 70 percent of Conservative voters would like the government to temporarily renationalise if they cannot offer lower bills.

The 38 Degrees polling was done after former Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on the government to temporarily bring into public ownership energy firms that are unable to offer lower bills.

Together with the energy company nationalisation proposal, Mr Brown also suggested the price cap should be frozen and called on the government to enter into negotiations with energy giants to work on measures to tackle the current cost of living crisis the UK is now facing.

The same polling also found that 71 percent of Conservative voters supported the introduction of a windfall tax on energy companies.

Together with two-thirds of Tory voters, also Green Party called for the nationalisation of the main big five energy companies British Gas, E.ON, EDF, Scottish Power and Ovo.

The party defined the initiative as a measure necessary “to avoid a catastrophe this winter”.

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The comments from Ms Widdecombe came together with the Office for National Statistics revealing that the UK rate of inflation has reached 10.1 percent, the highest level in 40 years and the biggest jump in cost of living since 1982.

According to ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner, the latest rise in inflation was due to rising prices of a wide range of food products.

Mr Fitzner explained: “A wide range of price rises drove inflation up again this month.

“Food prices rose notably, particularly bakery products, dairy, meat and vegetables, which was also reflected in higher takeaway prices. Price rises in other staple items, such as pet food, toilet rolls, toothbrushes and deodorants also pushed up inflation in July.

“Driven by higher demand, the price for package holidays rose, after falling at the same time last year, while air fares also increased. The cost of both raw materials and goods leaving factories continued to rise, driven by the price of metals and food respectively”.

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