PRIVATISED utility companies have paid out £37 billion in dividends to shareholders since the Tories came into power in 2010, shadow chancellor John McDonnell will reveal today.

Over the last seven years, more than £10bn has been pocketed by National Grid shareholders, £6.3bn by BT shareholders and £5.2bn by investors in Centrica, which owns British Gas.

Train operators and privatised water firms also appear on the list compiled by the Labour Party in consultation with the House of Commons library.