Dear Nigel Huddleston MP,
I am writing because this government has a huge opportunity and I am urging you – as my MP – to be part of it.
Water companies need to lose the cash they have squandered on profit and ridiculous levels of pay rather than sort out the water delivery infrastructure.
When water comes back into public ownership (which it should never have lost) and cash they get should reflect the money they should have been spending over the last 40 years since Thatcher’s ineptitude in the 19080’s. The reduction in their payout must be in the billions!
Let a small team work out the figures and get on with the inevitable!
Andy Burnham came to power this summer on a promise of giving people like me increased public control over life’s essentials.
Making the right decision for Thames Water is a way to decisively deliver on that promise.
Thames Water is in approximately £19 billion of debt. It has been in breach of its licence since July 2024, and the only option to keep it in private hands comes from a group of US hedge funds who have repeatedly asked for environmental leniency [1].
Will you take a moment to read this short briefing on why public ownership is the best next step for Thames Water [2]?
In Greater Manchester, Burnham heroically fought the bus companies in court in order to win the best deal for the public, a move which was hugely popular with voters.
By taking Thames Water into public hands, this government will signal to voters across the country that they are serious about giving the public greater control. In contrast, allowing the situation to continue – as households experience soaring bills, repeated outages and illegal sewage pollution – would be a significant political risk.
I would be really grateful if you would take a moment to read the briefing, and let me know of your thoughts.
[1]
‘Thames Water breaches licence conditions with fresh rating downgrade’, The FT – https://www.ft.com/content/16640b07-688d-4dff-a870-cb476be470f4?syn-25a6b1a6=1
‘MPs’ letter to OFWAT CEO and Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds’ – https://weownit.org.uk/act-now/mps-letter-to-ofwat-ceo-and-environment-secretary-emma-reynolds
[2] ‘Next steps for Thames Water’, We Own It – https://weownit.org.uk/site/assets/files/59616/woi-thameswater-nextsteps-4r.pdf
Sir David Attenborough