General · 6 June 2026
Andy Burnham wants Thames Water in public hands
Peter Trimming via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
People could see changes to water services if control shifts away from private owners. Speaking to the Guardian on 5 June, Andy Burnham said Thames Water should move into public ownership, arguing that the current system has failed and put investor returns ahead of customers. He also said firms raising charges shouldn't pay dividends, and pointed to pollution, neglected infrastructure and higher bills as evidence.
Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs