UK Prime Minister Pledges to Strengthen Public Ownership of Strategic Sectors

London, September 29 (KUNA) -- British Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged on Tuesday to strengthen public ownership in the housing, water, and energy sectors, paving the way for tighter government oversight and control over struggling industries. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, northwestern England, Burnham said he would introduce parliamentary bills on housing, water, and energy, including legislation to lift the ban on public ownership of water companies, describing the current situation in the water sector as emblematic of broader mistakes made in Britain. He also announced plans to grant local councils greater powers over vacant properties to provide homes for millions of Britons and to hold property owners accountable for delivering adequate services. In the energy sector, Burnham announced the creation of the Great British Grid to offer an alternative to private energy companies and reduce costs, as well as the establishment of a social care service modeled on the National Health Service (NHS). On the international front, Burnham reaffirmed Britain’s support for Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia and its opposition to Iranian threats against the UK. He expressed support for the recent ban on goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and endorsed the two-state solution. He also pledged to make Britain a global leader in artificial intelligence, called for electoral system reform, and sought to improve relations with the European Union to boost economic exchange and address challenges including illegal immigration. (End)