Labour MP Clive Lewis is calling for a referendum on nationalising the water industry.
Lewis, who is MP for Norwich South, links to a web form which will send a request to your MP, asking them to attend the debate. The form contains the following message:
I need your help to clean up our water system.
Over 160,000 people have signed a petition demanding a referendum on public ownership of water. That forced a debate in Parliament – on Monday 14th September.
This is a rare chance for MPs to hear what the public really thinks about our broken water system. Privatisation has failed, and 82% of the public agrees.
It’s no wonder why:
In 2024, sewage was discharged into our rivers for more than 3.6 million hours. Over 80% of all sewage spills into England’s waterways in the last two years may have been illegal.
Every single water company in England is under investigation for sewage spills.
Meanwhile since privatisation, £85 billion has been siphoned out of the system in dividends.
Almost a third of our water bills goes not into fixing pipes or protecting rivers, but into servicing debt and paying shareholders.
MPs need to hear this – and speak out for their constituents.
Water shouldn’t be a commodity. It should be a public good.
Over 160,000 people have signed a petition demanding a referendum on public ownership of water – enough to force a debate in Parliament on Monday 14th September.
Help me fill the room: https://t.co/izO7Olfuj1 pic.twitter.com/CunkSsVENL
— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) July 28, 2026
Clive Lewis wants what’s in the public’s best interest
We’ve reported extensively on the issues around privatised water, with recent stories including the following:
- London families told to refill water bottles despite having no running water during heatwave
- Thames Water issues massive bonuses to bosses… despite the ban on water bosses’ bonuses
- Water failure now top threat to UK – where’s the institutional panic?
Thames Water shareholders desperate to keep hands on cash cow monopoly
It’s also the case that nationalising water and other utilities is popular with voters.
You can contact your MP here.
Featured image via the Canary
By Willem Moore
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