5 questions about Labour’s broadband policy...
1. What shares would the Government buy? It wants to buy Openreach off BT, not the whole of BT PLC. Openreach shares don’t exist.
2. What happens if BT refuse to sell at price Parliament sets?
1. What shares would the Government buy? It wants to buy Openreach off BT, not the whole of BT PLC. Openreach shares don’t exist.
2. What happens if BT refuse to sell at price Parliament sets?
3. How have they come up with an ongoing cost of £230m a year to run the entire broadband network? Openreach alone employs 30,000 people whose jobs have been guaranteed. What about repairs?
4. What revenues will British Broadband have - presumably zero?
So what asset value will British Broadband be to UK balance sheet?
So what asset value will British Broadband be to UK balance sheet?
5. If rural areas are going to be prioritised first, and then city suburbs and towns - and only half connections (15m-18m) over 5 years - does rollout to cities/ businesses that need it, would have been happy to pay Openreach, get stalled/diverted?
Indeed from Openreach’s accounts - 32,454 employees on 31st March 2019, with annual wage bill, including pensions contributions - £858 million ... already well above £230m. And yet all jobs guaranteed. 
