The YouGov graph from May 2014 showing how political opinions are divided


Demonstrations are being held throughout Britain today (5 January 2015) by people who want the return of British Rail. The Action for Rail campaigners, backed by the Trades Union Congress and the rail unions, are also protesting about fare increases.

Most people appear to agree with the protesters and are in favour of rail nationalisation, according to a YouGov poll.

In the poll, about 60% were in favour of nationalisation while 20% were against, as shown in the graph above.

Although 78% of Labour supporters support nationalisation with only 6% against, Labour leaders will not openly back nationalisation because they are frightened of the reaction of the press in the run-up to the general election.

However, many young people do not read national newspapers – which are supporters of privatisation – and they are finding independent sources of news and comment, often online.

Even Conservative voters are evenly divided on whether the railways should be nationalised, while Lib Dem and UKIP supporters are strongly in favour of nationalisation.

The YouGov poll was taken in May 2014, just after Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was looking at options for returning the railway to public ownership.

The Government has since “privatised” passenger services on the East Coast main line which are currently being run by the Government-owned Directly Operated Railways after the failure of two franchises. The Stagecoach-Virgin joint venture will take over on 1 March, just two months before the general election on 7 May 2015.

That will make it difficult for a possible future Labour government to change the rail regime because the Stagecoach-Virgin franchise will have an eight-year contract.

Railfuture maintains a neutral position on privatisation and nationalisation of the railways, with the aim of keeping supporters of all political persuasions united in our campaign to improve the railways whatever system the Government chooses.

YouGov