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Baroness Burt of Solihull

Main Page: Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

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Baroness Burt of Solihull Excerpts
Tuesday 1st April 2014

(10 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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The Government’s advisers were from Lazard, which had no financial incentive whatever in the sale.

Baroness Burt of Solihull Portrait Lorely Burt (Solihull) (LD)
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Does my right hon. Friend agree that, despite the great hindsight shown by the Labour party, the decision was taken on the basis of the risks that we faced at the time? We should not have taken risks at any cost. If we had, the Labour party would be criticising us for a failed privatisation instead of a successful one.

Vince Cable Portrait Vince Cable
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I strongly suggest that the Opposition Members who are getting excited read the NAO report carefully, because it spells out what would have been the costs to the taxpayer had the IPO failed.