This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/05/andy-burnham-renationalise-railways-labour-leadership

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Andy Burnham vows to renationalise railways Andy Burnham vows to renationalise railways
(35 minutes later)
Andy Burnham has pledged to renationalise the railways “line by line” if he becomes the next prime minister.Andy Burnham has pledged to renationalise the railways “line by line” if he becomes the next prime minister.
The shadow health secretary will launch his leadership manifesto on Thursday, promising to end the “fragmentation and privatisation” of the rail system. The shadow health secretary will launch his Labour leadership election manifesto on Thursday, promising to end the “fragmentation and privatisation” of the rail system.
“We need a new approach to our railways, one that puts passengers before profit. That’s why I will work to bring the railways back under public control and public ownership,” Burnham will say in the manifesto. “We need a new approach to our railways – one that puts passengers before profit. That’s why I will work to bring the railways back under public control and public ownership,” Burnham will say in the manifesto.
Pointing to the success of the east coast mainline when it was in public ownership, Burnham will promise to set up a national rail governing body accountable to the transport secretary, to further regulate the bus network and campaign for an east to west high-speed rail route. Pointing to the success of the east coast mainline when it was in public ownership, Burnham will promise to set up a national rail governing body accountable to the transport secretary, to further regulate the bus network and campaign for an east-to-west high-speed rail route.
Burnham will claim that the UK railway system costs 40% more to run than other systems across Europe and that private investment in the railways has halved since 2010 at the same time as private profits have grown. Burnham will claim the UK railway system costs 40% more to run than other systems across Europe and that private investment in the railways has halved since 2010 at the same time as private profits have grown.
The announcement comes as Burnham’s leadership rival Jeremy Corbyn appears to be ahead in the race for Labour leader. Last month, a YouGov poll for the Times put the MP for Islington North ahead, with 43% of the first preference vote, and he has gained the backing of Unison, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite. The announcement comes as Burnham’s rival Jeremy Corbyn appears to be ahead in the leadership contest. Last month, a YouGov poll for the Times put the MP for Islington North ahead, with 43% of the first-preference vote, and he has gained the backing of Unison, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite.
Corbyn’s surprise surge has left his immediate rivals – Burnham and Yvette Cooper – struggling to compete for attention, though Burnham is still the bookies’ favourite to win the race.Corbyn’s surprise surge has left his immediate rivals – Burnham and Yvette Cooper – struggling to compete for attention, though Burnham is still the bookies’ favourite to win the race.
Corbyn has pledged to renationalise the railways and bring energy companies back into public ownership. A YouGov poll from May 2014 suggested that 60% of the public were in favour of renationalising the railways, compared to 20% who were against. Corbyn has pledged to renationalise the railways and bring energy companies back into public ownership. A YouGov poll from May 2014 suggested 60% of the public were in favour of renationalising the railways, compared to 20% who were against.
Related: Anti-austerity unpopular with voters, finds inquiry into Labour's election lossRelated: Anti-austerity unpopular with voters, finds inquiry into Labour's election loss
Burnham’s rivals said the policy had been taken straight from Labour’s general election manifesto, which promised to legislate to allow a public sector operator to “take on lines and challenge the private train-operating companies on a level playing field”.Burnham’s rivals said the policy had been taken straight from Labour’s general election manifesto, which promised to legislate to allow a public sector operator to “take on lines and challenge the private train-operating companies on a level playing field”.
They argued that the majority of rail franchises were up for tender in the next five years, making the policy important for the 2015 election, but leaving it less meaningful as a policy for the 2020 general election. They argued that the majority of rail franchises were up for tender in the next five years, making the policy important for the 2015 election but leaving it less meaningful as a policy for the 2020 general election.
In a seminar in Leeds on Tuesday, Corbyn launched a document entitled Northern Future, in which he outlined plans to rebalance the British economy. In addition to greater investment in the rail network in the north, he would seek to encourage manufacturing in the north to reduce Britain’s dependence on the services industry. In a seminar in Leeds on Tuesday, Corbyn launched a document called Northern Future, in which he outlined plans to rebalance the British economy. In addition to greater investment in the rail network in the north, he would seek to encourage manufacturing in the north to reduce Britain’s dependence on the services industry.
Corbyn said: “None of what we have said on this platform today would be seen as remotely exceptional, extreme or leftwing in Germany, where they proudly have public investment in all kinds of industries and don’t feel ashamed about it. Why have we got this obsession with not getting public involvement in what is the essential basis of our society and our economy?”Corbyn said: “None of what we have said on this platform today would be seen as remotely exceptional, extreme or leftwing in Germany, where they proudly have public investment in all kinds of industries and don’t feel ashamed about it. Why have we got this obsession with not getting public involvement in what is the essential basis of our society and our economy?”