The supervision of all offenders will be undertaken by the state in a major renationalisation of the probation sector. Only five years after introducing a widely derided programme of privatisation. Following years of damning criticism from MPs, inspectorates and former probation officers, the justice secretary, David Gauke, has decided to bring all offender management under the National Probation Service (NPS) by spring 2021. He said the private sector would still play a part in the provision of services, with £280m worth of contracts for rehabilitation services such as the provision of unpaid work and accredited programmes. But the core function of the service – supervising and managing about 250,000 offenders in the community – will once again be publicly provided.

Editorial: A new book helps us understand what is happening in Britain today by exposing the scale of the sell-off of the state’s estate

PSI’s vision is one of a better future, based on social and economic justice, and efficient, accessible public services around the world. Campaigns to influence policy internationally and nationally is thus central to our work. PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli shows how Right to Health Quarterly, serves as our voice to advance the goal of universal public healthcare.

The Union of Tunisian University Teachers and Researchers (IJABA) has staged a sit-in in front of the Ministry of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to protest the freezing of wages of striking teachers. Najmeddine Jaouida, General Coordinator of the union, called on MEPs not to adopt a bill which would promote investment in the private education sector. He felt that this law would provide for a definitive break with the public university and lead the way to an anarchic privatization of universities.

The community in Ocean County, New Jersey has rallied behind educational support personnel. The Ocean County Council of Education Associations says “Let's let the Lacey Board of Education know we stand together in support of the ESP's. Privatization hurts students!”

Paris airports operator Groupe ADP is awaiting a vote to allow the government to reduce its 50.6% airport stake in the coming months as part of wider economic reforms. Lawmakers have formed up in opposition to privatisation as the question of a referendum is put on the table.

CUPE Newfoundland (@CupeNL) denounces Dwight Ball, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, for planning to build a new prison using a ‘public-private partnership.’ “Naturally, Ernst & Young recommended using a public-private partnership. P3s= higher-cost private financing, ‘off book debts’ now that will mean less available funding in future years.”

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy “has deliberately sought to delay a bill aimed at ensuring Irish Water remains a public company, the Opposition has claimed.” Sinn Féin TD Eoin O Broin says “we are fed up with the delays, we want to proceed. Absolutely they are seeking to delay this. (…) Mr. Ó Broin expressed his anger with the further postponement of Committee Stage of the Water in Public Ownership Bill that was due to take place tomorrow. ‘The Committee Stage of Water in Public Ownership Bill has been delayed yet again at Minister Murphy’s request. This is clearly a delaying tactic by the government as it clearly does not want a referendum to ensure water services remain in public ownership,’ he said.”

Democrats in Congress are fighting back against Trump’s plan to privatize elements of the Veterans Administration. “Democrats now in charge in the House are resisting. They say proposed rules on when veterans could go outside VA are too lenient and would damage the government system — a long-held fear of Democrats who worry that union jobs will be siphoned off and the government system dismantled. (…) Democrats and some veterans groups have accused Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie of leaving them out of planning. ‘They profess to be against privatization,’ said Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), who ascended to chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee in January, ‘but by default, we will see privatization happen under our very noses.’ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has raised alarms for months that the policy lacks a ‘sustainable funding source.’”

Andrea Horwath, the Leader of Ontario’s Official Opposition, says “the Ford government is ramming through their mega-bureaucracy health privatization bill, while limiting public consultations and ignoring 19,413 pages of public submissions. In a democracy, people deserve to be consulted and have their concerns heard.” On April 30 there will be a rally to protect public healthcare hosted by the Ontario Health Coalition.

After a public outcry, plans to privatise Oxford University Hospital’s cancer screening facilities has been referred to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Austerity is a policy used by governments to save money, either as an overall reduction in government spending as a percentage of GPD, or specific reductions in government spending. However it is defined, austerity causes specific losses to specific people.