United Kingdom: Nationalization and Privatization of British Industry (1945–1997)

1. Labour wins 1945 election and plans nationalisation

   Jul 5, 1945Labels: Clement Attlee, Labour Party, Postwar Reconstruction

   • UK Parliament

2. Bank of England brought into public ownership

   Mar 1, 1946Labels: Bank of

   • UK Legislation
   • Wikipedia

3. Coal industry nationalised and National Coal Board created

   Jan 1, 1947Labels: National Coal, Coal Industry

   • UK Legislation
   • National Archives

4. Transport system reorganised under state control

   Jan 1, 1948Labels: British Transport, Transport Act

   • UK Legislation
   • Wikipedia

5. Electricity supply nationalised across Great Britain

   Apr 1, 1948Labels: British Electricity, Electricity Act

   • UK Legislation
   • Wikipedia

6. Gas industry nationalised into area boards

   May 1, 1949Labels: Area Gas, Gas Council

   • UK Legislation
   • Wikipedia

7. Iron and steel nationalised under state holding model

   Oct 23, 1950Labels: Iron and

   • UK Legislation
   • Wikipedia

8. Conservative government begins steel denationalisation

   May 14, 1953Labels: Conservative Party, Iron and

   • UK Legislation
   • Wikipedia

9. Steel re-nationalised and British Steel Corporation created

   Mar 22, 1967Labels: British Steel, Iron and

   • UK Legislation
   • Wikipedia

10. Aerospace and shipbuilding brought into state ownership

    Mar 17, 1977Labels: British Aerospace, British Shipbuilders

    • UK Legislation
    • Wikipedia

11. Telecommunications Act sets path to BT privatisation

    Apr 12, 1984Labels: Telecommunications Act, Telecoms Regulator

    • UK Legislation
    • Wikipedia

12. British Telecom shares begin trading after flotation

    Dec 3, 1984Labels: British Telecom, BT flotation

    • Hansard
    • Nat Archives

13. Gas Act enables British Gas privatisation

    Jul 25, 1986Labels: British Gas, Gas Act

    • UK Legislation
    • Wikipedia

14. Water services in England and Wales privatised

    Jul 6, 1989Labels: Water Act, England and

    • UK Legislation
    • Wikipedia

15. Electricity Act restructures sector for privatisation

    Jul 27, 1989Labels: Electricity Act, Electricity Regulator

    • UK Legislation
    • Wikipedia

16. Railways Act launches British Rail privatisation process

    Nov 5, 1993Labels: Railways Act, British Rail

    • UK Legislation
    • Wikipedia

17. Railtrack sold in 1996 stock market flotation

    May 20, 1996Labels: Railtrack plc, 1996 Flotation

    • Public Accounts
    • Commons Library

18. 1997 election ends the main privatisation wave

    May 1, 1997Labels: 1997 General, Labour Party

    • UK Parliament
    • Britannica