{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreicazhifibx3aggr5us6ni55ojjo7gq2swt3hcqpfogbm64ht4gaam",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:oznbnvgr7dmvddiyvr7dih52/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhunqk4vmcc2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreibwrojs5eabku7ud5mnj7gfxp3oauuuwnbcuuyym2564nwlo4xtm4"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 45937
  },
  "path": "/politics/politics-news-latest-reform-nigel-farage-nationalise-pledge-keir-starmer-kemi-badenoch-pmqs",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-25T07:42:01.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "READ THE FULL STORY HERE.",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nReform UK has scrapped its pledge to part-nationalise water and energy companies, with Nigel Farage's party rewriting its stance on utilities.\n\nAt the 2024 General Election, Reform had promised a \"new ownership model for critical national infrastructure\" in which the state and pension funds would own half each.\n\nLast summer, Mr Farage reiterated said he was determined to bring half of the fraught UK water industry into public ownership, adding it would cost \"a lot less\" than the £50billion touted by experts.\n\nHowever, a party spokesman has now admitted to the Financial Times the policy has been dropped, pointing to a speech by Mr Farage in November where he scrapped his previous plans for £90billion of tax cuts.\n\nA spokesman said: \"Nigel has said that the Contract with the People, the 2024 manifesto, and in particular the fiscal pledges within that, are no longer party policy.\n\n\"Other parties are not continually held to their previous election manifestos...There will be scope for greater state involvement in utilities under Reform.\n\n\"We will consider strategic stakes or using the government’s balance sheet to fix broken markets.\"\n\nOne source close to the party told the FT the party's new Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick was bringing his \"small c conservative\" instincts to Reform’s policies and shifting back to a \"small state\" economic agenda.\n\nThe most recent YouGov polling from suggests there is support for bringing energy companies back into public ownership, with 35 per cent of adults \"strongly supporting\" nationalisation.\n\n_**_FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…_**_\n\n### Mel Stride welcomes Conservative proposals to ban non-English campaign material\n\n\n\n\nSir Mel Stride has welcomed the proposal from Conservatives to ban political campaigning not in English.\n\nIt follows campaign material from the Green Party in the Gorton and Denton by-election that was published in Urdu, a stance defended by winning candidate Hannah Spencer, who said the material promoted \"inclusivity\"\n\nThe Shadow Chancellor told GB News: \"I think its very important to bring up as we saw the kind of approach that can happen. If you segregate by language in that way it does make politics more divisive.\n\n\"One of the disappointing aspects of that by election was it was stirring up division, stirring up issues around Gaza.\"\n\n\n### Labour MPs demand more protection for men and boys from the 'manosphere'\n\n\n\n\nA group of Labour MPs have called for more protection from the \"manosphere\" for men and boys in a letter to Ofcom.\n\nMore than 60 MPs wrote to the broadcasting regulator’s chief executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, on Tuesday, saying they are “gravely concerned” about the increasing risks men and boys face when using online platforms.\n\nIn November, Ofcom gave tech platforms guidance on how to tackle harmful content and activity that disproportionately affects women and girls online.\n\nBut the group of MPs have argued men and boys also face specific risks online, such as \"far-right political radicalisation\", financial scams and violent pornography, brought to them by \"misogynist influencers.\"\n\nIn the letter, the MPs said: \"Men and boys encounter harmful content, including mis- and disinformation, pornography and misogynist content at a roughly similar rate to women and girls.\n\n\"However, the content targeted at a male audience is likely to be different, and platforms might need to take different steps to understand and tackle the problem.\"\n\n### Keir Starmer faces four major tests across England this week as local elections draw nearer\n\n\n\n\nSir Keir Starmer's Labour Party faces four major electoral tests across England this week as nationwide local elections draw nearer.\n\nA series of by-elections will be taking place across the country: two Conservative-controlled wards, one Labour and one Liberal Democrat.\n\nREAD THE FULL STORY HERE.\n\n### WATCH: Wes Streeting declares words are 'not good enough' as he vows for stronger action to protect British Jews\n\n\n\n\n### Inflation holds at 3% as Bank of England warns of fresh surge\n\n\n\n\nThe consumer prices index (CPI) remained unchanged at three per cent in February, matching economists’ expectations and holding at the same level recorded in January.\n\nHowever, the annual rate remains above the Labour’s official two per cent target.\n\nFigures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday confirmed the figure, aligning with forecasts compiled in a Reuters poll.\n\nREAD THE FULL STORY HERE.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Nigel Farage drops Reform UK pledge to nationalise water and energy companies just months after insisting it would 'cost a lot less'"
}