The worst of both worlds

Ross Clark says that the government’s PFI deals allow private companies to prosper at the public’s expense

Imagine you are a left-leaning Guardian reader with a social conscience. You are not a communist, but your attitude towards private enterprise is less one of enthusiasm than grudging tolerance. If we are going to let private companies run things and make things, you believe, they must at least follow a Will Huttonesque paradigm of virtue, looking after their staff and the local community before distributing a few crumbs to their shareholders. And, of course, capitalists must be kept away from the things which really matter. It is one thing your local Indian takeaway being run for profit, but it is quite disgusting to think that greedy capitalists and idle shareholders should be raking in riches from your knee operation and your children’s education.