The Financial Times reports that Labour has insisted that part-nationalisation of the railway system will not scare away private companies, claiming operators would rather “cut their own throats” than withdraw.
Ed Miliband’s radical plan for the railways, to be announced at a conference this weekend, involves creating a state-owned operator that would be able to compete in most franchise competitions as they come up for renewal.
The Labour leader will also face vocal calls from his party grassroots and unions at the one-off policy conference to scrap the Trident nuclear deterrent, expel private companies from the National Health Service and scrap tuition fees.
Last week Martin Griffiths, chief executive of Stagecoach, said part- nationalisation would deter transport companies from bidding for rail franchises.
