Progressive Reduction of Unnecessary National Entities (PRUNE)
(Formerly PLUSH) A 20-year programme of privatisation to increase freedom, reduce debt, and refocus the state on its core strategic functions.
PRUNE — Privatisation Programme
Assets to be Privatised (via Vickrey Auction)
- The BBC
- UK Fishing grounds (EEZ parcelled and sold — catches must land in UK ports)
- The Forestry Estate
- The UK Student Loan Book
- Spectrum holdings (retaining only strategic bands)
- Remaining state stakes (NatWest, NATS, Royal Mail Parcels, Railways, Ports)
- State education sector (universities, colleges, schools, LEAs, DfE)
- Residential streets, shopping streets, villages and estates (commonhold model)
- The NHS (business and estate)
Strategic Assets to Remain in State Hands
- Motorways and major trunk routes (classified as national-defence assets)
- Strategic bypasses and relief roads
- Ancient rights of way
- Defence Training Estate (potentially expandable for strategic buffers)
Non-Strategic Roads
Bundled into logical corridors and sold as perpetual toll concessions (Vickrey auctions). Operators must maintain HGV standards and provide free access to emergency services and military vehicles.
Use of Proceeds
Proceeds split 50/50 between paying down the national debt and cutting taxes.
The Goal
To dramatically shrink the state’s footprint, eliminate unnecessary state-owned enterprises, return assets to productive private hands, and ensure the state focuses exclusively on core functions of defence, justice, and border control.
Strong where it must be. Absent where it should be.