nationalization was a key feature of the first post world war ii labour government, from 1945 to 1951 under clement attlee. the coal and steel industries were just two of many industries or services to be nationalised, while the formation of the national health service in 1948 entitled everyone to free healthcare. the subsequent conservative governments led by winston churchill, anthony eden, harold macmillan, alec douglas-home and edward heath allowed practically all of the nationalized industries and services to remain in public ownership, as part of the post-war consensus. however, the election victory of margaret thatcher's conservatives in 1979 saw the vast majority of nationalized industries, services and utilities privatized within a decade. the national health service was allowed to continue. the labour party initially opposed thatcher's privatization, but the party's commitment to nationalisation had been abandoned by the time it swept back into power in 1997 under tony blair. however, in february 2008, blair's successor gordon brown nationalized the failing northern rock bank during the great recession. the much larger royal bank of scotland and halifax bank of scotland were part nationalized for the same reason in october of that year. after nearly four years in public ownership, northern rock was sold to virgin money and royal bank of scotland agreed a branch sale to the santander group in november 2011. however, royal bank of scotland and lloyds remain in public ownership five years later and in november 2012 the public accounts committee warned that it could be many years before the banks are sold and the £66 billion so far invested in these banks may never be recovered.