A majority of voters believe key services such as water, energy, and Royal Mail should be run by the state, new polling reveals.

After the misery of sky-high bills inflicted on consumers in recent years, 66% believe energy companies should be now be state-run.

Just 17% say the water industry should be run by private companies - compared to almost three-quarters (72%) who believe it should be returned to the state. It follows public outrage over bills, sewage pollution and bonuses handed to bosses.

The survey for the campaigning group 38 Degrees by pollsters Survation also shows 71% want Royal Mail to be returned to the state after it was privatised by the Tories in 2013.

And in a boost to the government's plan to renationalise rail services, 71% of voters say the service should be run by the state, with just 18% opting for the private sector. Speaking on Sunday the Transport Secretary Louise Haigh defended plans to establish Great British Railways and bring services into public hands.

She said the body will be operationally independent from the government, adding: "That's why I'm the passenger in chief, not the fat controller".

The survey shared with The also shows majority support (69%) for buses to be run by the state - with more opting for local councils over national government.

CEO of 38 Degrees, Matthew McGregor, said: “This research is clear: the British public wants a strong and proactive public sector that runs crucial services for the good of everyone.

"Whether it’s seeing our sky-high energy payments lining the pockets of greedy CEOs or our rivers and coastlines polluted by sewage, the public are wise to the severe risks that come with allowing for-profit companies to run key services - and want ministers to do more to ensure ordinary people don’t pay the price."

He added: “Ministers should take strength from the fact that - where they are taking bold action to bring services back into public ownership, like with our buses and rail networks - the public backs them, and wants to see more of this.”

Survation interviewed 1,006 UK adults between 25th and 28th October online. Data was weighted to the profile of all adults in the UK aged 18+.

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