Rebecca Long Bailey

Rebecca Long Bailey

Labour — Salford

Speaking in the House of Commons on 8 June 2026

Debate

Water Companies

Contribution

The Minister knows that for decades shareholder returns have been prioritised over consumers, the environment and infrastructure investment, and when the companies ultimately fail, it is taxpayers who have to underwrite them. Given that all the empirical research shows that public ownership would lower financing costs and bills, improve accountability and pay for itself within seven years, why on earth are the Government still prepared to socialise the risks rather than bring water back into public ownership?

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