I've always been torn about this. On the one hand, I vividly remember the chaotic, inefficient strike-torn mess that were the nationalised industries of the 1960's and '70's. But on the other, the privatised model has most definitely not worked in terms of investment or service levels and prices paid by the consumer (who are effectively paying twice, once for the ticket and again in taxes for the subsidies and tax breaks).

On balance, I feel there are certain industries which can be defined as essential for national security and social cohesion which should be at least run as non-profit, non-dividend businesses and probably nationalised. Power, water, roads and public transport are top of my list.

But if we are going to re-nationalise public transport, we should probably start with the trains, not the buses. That needs to be run nationally, with a national investment plan to include re-opening district lines that were closed for non-profitability. Especially as the government's drive to push everyone into electric cars has the effect of pricing out around 50% of the population who would previously have bought older second hand cars. When the buses are nationalised, they can be run locally (but not by town or county councils, which are hotbeds of corruption and incompetence), and desperately need to co-ordinate with the rail services. Perhaps that way, the bus I need won't leave two minutes before my train comes in.