Labour mayors are calling on Andy Burnham to bring forward his plans to put water companies into public ownership as the UK endures record-breaking heat and millions of people are placed under hosepipe bans.
During the Makerfield by-election campaign, Burnham vowed to take “greater public control” of the water sector, but is yet to set out his plans in detail since becoming Prime Minister.
Various options have been discussed for the future of England’s water sector, from full-scale nationalisation to a cooperative model, under which companies would be run as non-profits owned by customers.
It has also been suggested that combined authorities could play a greater role in managing water companies, a move that would align with Burnham’s greater ambitions around devolution.
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