[refurb]

Because essential public services shouldn't be reliant on the whim of a company.

I'm confused. I'm assuming that the UK uses tax money to hire private companies to provide the transit services. The public services aren't at the whim of a company, they are just provided by a company.

[imron]

Exactly, and companies are compelled by law to pay the taxes, as compared to companies providing these services out of good corporate citizenship.