The huge costs facing Andy Burnham – and the financial tightrope he must walk Politics Andy Burnham said he didn’t set out to deliver a “tub-thumping conference speech” but it was packed with huge pledges to take control over utilities and expand the state. Maurício Alencar considers just how costly his promises are in the long term – and in the next month. Andy Burnham had all the goodies for [...]
South West Water hit with £7.8m fine for ‘horrendous’ pollution offences Water The Environment Agency has fined South West Water £7.8m over a string of pollution-related offences across Devon and Cornwall. The water company pleaded guilty to 24 environmental charges after the Environment Agency investigated incidents that took place between January 2015 and July 2021 in Bodmin, Harlyn, Polperro, Plymouth, and Playing Place. Of the charges, 17 [...]
Burnham to pledge greater control of water and energy industries Industrials Andy Burnham will double down on plans to seize greater public control of the water, energy and transport industries tomorrow as he pledges to “break with the flawed thinking of the past 40 years”. In his first speech to Labour’s conference as Prime Minister, Burnham is expected to say Britain is currently “run for vested [...]
Burnham considers giving mayors ‘control over water companies’ September 16, 2026 Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to create nine regional bodies led by mayors that could bring water companies under public control. Under the proposals, regional leaders would sit on boards alongside public health officials, customers and environmental campaigners. Alongside setting company objectives, it is understood the boards will collect customer feedback through consultation mechanisms modelled [...]
Thames Water creditors eye board shake-up if takeover plan succeeds August 24, 2026 The group of creditors vying to take control of Thames Water has said it will appoint the former bosses of Yorkshire Water and BT Openreach to the utility’s board should it succeed in fending off nationalisation by the government. The London & Valley Water (L&VW) consortium, which includes heavyweight investors including Apollo and Elliott, has [...]
Emergency government meeting held over high temperature amid ‘strain on public finances’ August 12, 2026 The government will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the country’s response to this summer’s high temperatures and drought amid fears that it will add a “strain” on the public finances. Prime Minister Andy Burnham will chair the ‘Cobra’ meeting of ministers overseeing health, water, housing and local government, as well as officials from agencies [...]
Thames Water faces fresh threat to survival after pensions regulation breach August 8, 2026 Thames Water is facing a fresh threat to its survival after breaching pensions regulations, opening up the possibility of a costly probe. The Reading-based business, which could run out of cash as soon as December, missed a statutory deadline at the end of June to value its company pension scheme and is now facing a [...]
Thames Water to run out of money by end of the year July 15, 2026 Thames Water is set to run out of cash by the end of the year as the UK’s largest private utility company struggles to secure a finalised rescue deal. The embattled water firm – which serves around 16m customers, mostly in London and the South East – said in its latest financial report that it [...]
South East Water told to cough up £31m and improve infrastructure July 14, 2026 South East Water has been ordered to cough up a hefty redress and create an improvement plan for its operations after multiple investigations by the industry regulator found failures in its infrastructure and customer service. The utility firm – which supplies drinking water to 2.3m customers across the likes of Kent, Sussex and Surrey – [...]
Exclusive: Reynolds never met Thames Water investors before rejecting rescue deal July 1, 2026 Environment secretary Emma Reynolds never met the investors behind a proposed Thames Water rescue package before slapping down their deal out of hand last month, City AM can reveal. Reynolds, who is the minister responsible for water policy, has left officials in her department to meet representatives of a large creditors’ group, which includes investment [...]