National Grid Share Discussion Threads

[loganair] 02/8/2019 15:49

The leftwingers says the very last thing they want and have an extreme dislike for is for the UK to become the Singapore of Europe.

I've been to Singapore many times and I love it there as everything seems to work and work well and i for one really hope that Boris can start the UK on its way to becoming the Singapore of Europe.

[willoicc] 02/8/2019 15:45

Indeed. Big brother state writ large.

[loganair] 02/8/2019 14:09

Ever since I can remember the Liberals have never been a party of the Centre or Free Enterprise.

The Scottish Nationalist, Welsh Nationalist, Greens are all very left wing in their politics.

[bountyhunter] 02/8/2019 13:58

For sure we definitely don't want to see a Labour/LibDem coalition imv.
So if/when there is a GE will the Brexit Party stand down to make way for the Tories so long as BJ keeps to his promises, or if not could we see a Tory/Brexit Party coalition or would that be a step to far for the Tories?
There could be all kinds of political sculdugery - I wouldn't even put it past the LibDems to stand down to make way for a Remain Labour Party but that could be dangerous for Labour as they may lose too many votes?

[willoicc] 02/8/2019 13:29

The Lib/Dems are even more extreme than Labour.

[bountyhunter] 02/8/2019 13:11

Yes TM was too much of a wet blanket trying to please all the people all the time, no wonder the road ran out for her in the end! Three and a half years were wasted putting us in arguably a worse position than we were when she took over.

[loganair] 02/8/2019 13:10

What I've been hearing is that a Labour JC government would be far worse then the hardest of hard Brexits.

[utyinv] 02/8/2019 12:31

As bounty has said, the LibDems have always advocated utilities should be State run. So it’s not if JC or JMc get a majority at the GE, it’s if they, with a first past the post system, are asked to build a Government. The SNP and LibDems might help JC whether in coalition or just voting through a Nationalisation plan.

If BJ does win an GE without a clear Conservative majority every proposal BJ puts forward will be voted down. Then it’s just down to time before we have another GE.

Unfortunately until the media stops promoting Left Wing policy and starts praising the Utilities that are well run, public opinion and every political party will be looking to punish utilities. Even TM tried to buy votes and popularity by endorsing draconian measures to rein in income for Utilities.

[bountyhunter] 02/8/2019 12:09

The danger is a coalition with LibDems etc unless the Tories can get through Brexit which I hope they can but wonder how with parliamentary arithmatic not in favour indicating an early GE say Sept/Oct?

[phillis] 02/8/2019 11:55

Can’t see much of a threat from JC/ JMc after yesterday’s result

[utyinv] 01/8/2019 20:24

Action,
Agreed but IMO need to list separately.

Ofgem think that the decent returns (future returns) should subsidise the UK business, hence it’s proposal only to offer NG a ROE of only 4%. for RIIO II

On top of that, if Corbyn were ever to get into power even in a coalition with SNP, Lib Dem’s, Greens and Plyd Cum.. they all have a weird belief that Utilities should be Nationalised. By listing the US business separately the US business would be untouchable.

As has been said before, any tax due from US derived dividends can be reduced by filling in a W8BEN form as one of my ex-colleagues mentioned at the AGM last Monday.

Dividends and share price would be better protected against the smash and grab philosophy of the Left Wing. AIMO

[action] 01/8/2019 17:35

Biggest need for power tranmission in USA to upgrade old tranmission system. National Grid will do better in USA.

[utyinv] 29/7/2019 16:26

1carus,

Well said 👍

[1carus] 29/7/2019 15:36

There needs to be laws passed here in blighty to stop governments from stealing the assets of private individuals/companies.
Offwhatever and the M&M commission should already have all the powers to keep such companies of the likes of NG in hand, to not be exploitative. And that does seem to be the case. The company is not poorly run and probably offers a good standard of operation for the money it charges, if not it would not be competitive elsewhere.
Thankfully Labour are falling away, and most of the older generation already know what a decade of stagnation feels like in your pension pot, and most are smart enough to know labour's policies will not help that. They are un-electable thankfully.
If NG ws falling apart and causing national issues then there could be an argument for a government to step in , but not when a company is within a deviation of being run within business norms.

[whitestone] 28/7/2019 11:17

National Grid’s overseas plan to thwart Jeremy Corbyn
Rachel Millard
July 28 2019, 12:01am,
The Sunday Times

National Grid’s overseas plan to thwart Jeremy Corbyn

National Grid is considering setting up overseas subsidiaries to guard against the threat of nationalisation under a Labour government.


The FTSE 100 business, which owns and runs the major electricity and gas networks, has been fiercely critical of Jeremy Corbyn’s plan to nationalise them — possibly below market value — warning that it risks scaring off investors.

Bosses are taking legal advice on how to protect shareholders. Options include setting up divisions in Singapore, Hong Kong or India, which have treaties with the UK to ensure investors are paid properly in any state asset-grab. Pension and insurance giants have already shifted stakes in water utilities such as Yorkshire and Anglian to Hong Kong.

The efforts are likely to widen the gulf with Labour, which is targeting power networks, Royal Mail and rail and water companies for nationalisation. It argues that customers are being “ripped off” and plans to compensate investors with gilts.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has warned he will pursue shareholders who try to shelter abroad from nationalisation. Last night, he said any “avoidance schemes” would be “completely counter-productive”.

National Grid said: “We are taking legal advice to explore the best route to protect shareholder value.”

[bountyhunter] 09/7/2019 09:31

Also of relevance to NG...

SSE Boss Blames Labour Party For Driving Away Investors - FT (Alliance News) - SSE PLC has found it difficult to attract investors due to the UK opposition Labour Party's stated intention to renationalise energy networks, the Financial Times reported on Monday....

[bountyhunter] 07/7/2019 13:26

Why should NGs US profits be subject to a windfall tax? That would put them at a competitive disadvantage in the US market.

[veryniceperson] 07/7/2019 13:24

They did a windfall tax in 97. Gordon couldn't wait to get his hands on the spoils after private Investment got them running well. 5 billion they took. Have to agree pete. O and another thing they took 5 billion year in tax credits from pensions. Lovely lot and they call themselves the workers party. Sorry guys rant over.

[bountyhunter] 07/7/2019 13:22

McD is a communist at heart, that's why he wants to nationalise everything imho. I don't think it will happen though as the majority can see through him and so I don't see labour winning the next GE with those policies.
Not to say that NG should not spin off the US business as a precaution.

[veryniceperson] 07/7/2019 13:17

Agree Pete.

[pete160] 07/7/2019 11:44

I don't understand why any government needs to nationalise Industries given that they could just implement a windfall tax or limit the scale of price increases, redundancies etc through regulation?Why do they need to take the responsibility and liability of state ownership when they can just take the spoils of private ownership?

[veryniceperson] 05/7/2019 00:05

Gateside. If they can get a sniff of power and a ministerial car they will, believe me.

[10576190] 04/7/2019 22:01

Historically it's either Labour or Conservative, you could say two sides of a coin...

Heads you stay as you are, may even gain a tenth or two
Tails possibly loose something like five eighths

Coalition would be great, as would staying in Europe, taking the currency, Proportional Representation and Federalism while we are at it.