Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

'The worst of all worlds?' New Labour, Network Rail and the third way

Jupe, Robert E. (2007) 'The worst of all worlds?' New Labour, Network Rail and the third way. In: APIRA 2007. . (Unpublished) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:3948)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.

Abstract

This paper examines the role and status of Network Rail, a very significant example of New Labour’s attempt to operationalize the ‘third way’. A number of significant changes have occurred since its creation which make Network Rail’s position as a private company with private sector debt appear increasingly anomalous. These changes include: the reclassification of the debt of another rail company from private to public, and the introduction of ‘imputed debt’ into public sector debt measurement; new funding arrangements for Network Rail which make it heavily dependent on public support; and important rail regulatory policy changes. The paper demonstrates that Network Rail is a very expensive mechanism for channelling public money to private companies, and argues that the Labour Government’s attempt to maintain the company’s private sector status as part of its third way approach is ultimately untenable.

Item Type: Conference or workshop item (Paper)
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
H Social Sciences > HG Finance
H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications
H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5601 Accounting
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Kent Business School (do not use)
Depositing User: Suzanne Duffy
Date Deposited: 22 Jul 2008 13:48 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:42 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/3948 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Jupe, Robert E..

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.