Extract from second reading debate (Lords) of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill - Oct 7

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (GP):...On public ownership of the energy system to deal with the huge jump in household bills, we could end the scandal of record-high standing charges that do nothing to discourage energy use and which hit the poor really hard. Rail companies have made a good profit, but British Gas has made a tenfold profit over the last year, and the likes of BP and Shell have doubled and trebled profits. Public ownership could end those excess profits and bring down prices for consumers...