Left and right share common ground on water nationalisation

Norwich South MP Clive Lewis saw his Labour Party fail to back his water Private Members’ Bill at Second Reading on Friday.

Among its provisions, the Bill seeks to take water companies into public ownership, without compensation for owners, if they are responsible for three major sewage spills. Other provisions include ensuring water is affordable, requiring the Government to publish a water strategy, and setting up a citizens’ assembly on water ownership.

Water minister Emma Hardy said she was committed to improving performance, but that nationalisation would cost around £200bn.

Sources have flagged up that Reform is considering making public ownership of water a major plank of its future campaigns, given it is popular with the public, with deputy leader Richard Tice attending Lewis’ session. Reform’s policy is for water to be 50% owned by UK pension funds, and 50% owned by the public, with operation by private companies.