Nationalisation of the water industry was back on the agenda at the 2017 CBI conference. Jeremy Corbyn denied the suggestion that Labour’s policy was a ‘throwback’ to the 1970s, saying “it’s not good for the image of business when water companies pay out billions in dividend and interest payments through opaque financial arrangements, while households see their bills go up to pay for it”. he added that “Some of the world’s biggest economies – Germany, France, even the United States are deciding that key sectors such as energy and water are better off in public ownership. It’s time for Britain to catch up”. He also reiterated the paty’s commitment to end the Private Finance Initiative.

Read the full speech here.