Sheffield Green Councillors have expressed their dismay over the support shown by Liberal Democrat and Labour Councillors for allowing the private sector to continue to control the water industry.
In a Green Party amendment to a Labour motion on the Water Industry at last Wednesday’s Council meeting, Ecclesall Green Party Councillor Peter Gilbert said,
“Life essentials such as water should not be used for private profit and should instead be in public ownership so the industry is run properly, with investment in fixing problems and planning for the future.
“It is completely unacceptable for water companies to let sewage enter our rivers, lakes and seas and the Government needs to do more to make water companies tackle sewerage discharges;
“English water companies paid over £70 billion to shareholders in dividends between 1991 and 2024, a figure that includes inflation-adjusted amounts, with some reports citing figures as high as £72.8 billion or around £75 billion;
“Government should bring water companies back into public ownership to stop shareholder profits and ensure greater investment in vital water infrastructure;
Labour abstained on the Green proposal to bring water companies into public ownership and Liberal Democrat Councillors voted against.
In his first conference speech as the new leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Zack Polanski said,
“We must end this failed privatisation experiment, it will save us money, and stop the money we’ve all earned from lining the pockets of shareholders. Water in public hands. Clean rivers. And cheaper bills.”
Cllr Gilbert said.
“The Labour Party should listen to the majority of the public that want to see water in public ownership.
“The Cunliffe review, the so-called “independent” commission on the water sector regulatory system, was prevented by Labour from considering public ownership.
“Labour could bring water companies into public ownership for minimal cost through the special administration process, which is built into the 1991 Water Industry Act.
“It can be triggered if a company cannot pay its depts (as looks likely with Thames Water) or is not performing its statutory requirements, (as is the case with Yorkshire Water), which include treating waste water rather than dumping it into the environment.
“Instead the Government wilfully misleads the public with their totally made up, economically illiterate position that they are not looking at public ownership because it would cost £100 billion of public money.
“It is deeply disappointing that Labour and the Liberal Democrats do not support public ownership of the water industry. 82% of the British public in a 2024 poll said they want to see the public ownership of water. UK householders have been paying a privatisation premium since 2010. It is time the old parties caught up with public opinion and nationalised the water industry.”
