Prem Sikka

@premnsikka • 131,613 subscribers

Emeritus Professor of Accounting. If with all your effort and might you do not reach the mountain top that is not failure; failure is that you did not even try.

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UK govt wants people to save more for private pensions. How? Real average wage is lower than in 2008, rich have got richer. 50% of the population owns less than 5% of wealth and the poorest 10% own just 0.02%. Is it redistribution or trickle-down? Watch the Minister's reply.

George Orwell's "1984" to become reality in the UK in 2024. Govt to snoop on bank accounts of the sick, disabled, poor, elderly &amp; unfortunate. No court order needed. You won't be told. Same won't apply to tax dodgers, money launderers, fraudsters What next for civil liberties?

England is the home of 85% of the world's chalk streams, a crucial part of the UK ecological system. Despite criminal convictions water companies continue to destroy it by dumping raw sewage. I asked the Minister to revoke their licence to operate. Watch the Minister's reply.

Here is what I said about lifting 1.6m children out of poverty. It is 100% affordable. Minister didn't respond. Would govt find the money if a bank collapsed tomorrow? Poverty is a political choice.

Energy company profiteering is inflicting pain to all Since 2020, they have made £125.7bn profit from UK operations, equivalent to £4,400 per household. This is fuelling UK inflation, poverty and business costs. What will the Govt do? Watch the Minister's reply.

Govt to nationalise rail passenger services. Highly profitable freight, rolling stock companies (ROSCOs) to remain private. Why? ROSCOs based in Luxembourg, funded from public purse, profit margin 41.6%, paid £2.7bn dividend, no UK tax on that. Minister didn't answer questions

2020-2024: UK energy industry made £483.4bn operating profit. 6.1m households in fuel poverty. 110,000 pensioners a year die in fuel poverty. Steel, shipbuilding, engineering industries struggling. What would the govt do to end profiteering? Watch the Minister's reply.

Heat-related deaths are rising in the UK, likely to double this year. Could be tackled by laws specifying maximum temperature at workplace. Countries such as Spain and Belgium have such laws, give workers enforceable rights. What will the UK govt do? Watch the Minister's reply

30%-40% of public money given to England's care homes vanishes in profits, little left for frontline services. Almost all care homes forcibly closed between 2011 and 2023 were operated by for-profit companies. Profits and care can't be combined. Watch the Minister's reply.

Does Tory Govt have a sinister plan to means-test the state pension? It is taking powers for 24/7 snooping of the bank accounts of retirees even though there is no/little fraud Now watch the bumbling Minister's reply and related discontent, and wonder what the Govt is up to.

England's water industry and govt put put inflated numbers about the cost of nationalisation. I asked the Minister to explain the social cost of leaving water in private ownership. It is likely to be over £1 trillion by 2050. Question was notified in advance. Watch his reply.

Adult social care privatised since the 1980s. Local councils spend 70% of budget on it. 83% of social care controlled by private equity, 20%-40% profit margin. Will Govt end profiteering, ensure only not-for-profit entities provide care. Watch Minister's reply.

Govt revives the disastrous Private Finance Initiative (PFI). PFI ran 1992-2018. Govts got £60bn private investment, repayment £306bn. Now £1 of public investment to be matched by £3 of private, will repay £15-£18, guaranteeing corporate profits There are sensible alternatives

Jobs for young adults is a pressing issue of our times. One possibility is that a freeze or reversal of the state pension age could release jobs for younger adults. It could also give a respite to senior citizens being worked to death. What do you make of the Minister's reply?

How would you clean-up UK politics? Ministers of all shades grab freebies and return favours to the providers. One way is to criminalise the receiving/giving of gifts above a certain amount. Watch this - Minister thinks cleansing politics is a laughing matter.

England's Student Loan system is blighting the life of million. Young adults burdened with £267bn debt, rising to £500bn by 2040. Repayment forced when earning less than median wage, paying real rates of interest. I offered the Minister policy choice. Watch the reply.

To protect England's privatised water companies Ministers claim that public ownership would cost £100bn. Utterly bogus and misleading number. I asked the Minister to explain and defend this ridiculous number Watch the Minister's reply.

George Orwell's "1984" to become reality in the UK in 2024. Govt to snoop on bank accounts of the sick, disabled, poor, elderly & unfortunate. No court order needed. You won't be told. Same won't apply to tax dodgers, money launderers, fraudsters What next for civil liberties?