Is it right to privatise public sector services?
The move by the Conservative controlled Essex county council to bring in IBM to manage public sector services in the region has opened a potential can of worms for the UK authorities. Is it right to put public sector services out for tender? Or should taxpayers be left to foot the cost from day one?
The problem with public sector services in the UK is the fact they have become bloated over the last decade and are now the largest employer in the country. If a third party is able to come in and trim the fat from the public sector, saving taxpayers money along the way, then surely there is nothing wrong with this move?
While many unions will demand job security and security of services in the region served by Essex county council, the fact remains that if public sector services in the UK were "up to scratch" then there would be no need to bring in private sector companies. Whether this move by the Essex county council is something which will be copied around the country remains to be seen but the UK government has in many ways used the public sector to massage employment figures and is now potentially paying the price.
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