New environment secretary Angela Eagle has said the government is prepared to change the law to reform the water industry, confirming ministers would consider taking the ailing Thames Water into public ownership.
Key facts
- Angela Eagle is the new environment secretary.
- She said 'nothing is off the table' regarding Thames Water.
- Ministers are prepared to take Thames Water into public ownership.
- Eagle said Britain's insolvency laws cannot deal with the behaviour of companies controlling Thames Water.
- Andy Burnham told her to make water industry reform her top priority.
Britain’s insolvency laws cannot deal with the aggressive behaviour shown by the companies that control Thames Water, the environment secretary has said, according to the Guardian. In an exclusive interview, Angela Eagle confirmed that ministers were prepared to take the struggling utility into public ownership.
Eagle told the Guardian she was determined to reform the water industry, insisting that ‘nothing is off the table’ in dealing with the ailing Thames Water. Her comments signal a willingness by the government to consider significant intervention in the sector.
The new environment secretary said she had been urged to prioritise the issue, telling the Guardian she was told by Andy Burnham to make reform of the water industry her top priority.
Eagle’s remarks point to a readiness to change the law where existing frameworks fall short. She argued that current insolvency rules are not equipped to handle the conduct of the companies in control of Thames Water, according to the Guardian.
The confirmation that public ownership remains a possibility marks a notable position for the government as it grapples with the future of one of Britain’s largest water suppliers.
Why it matters
Thames Water serves millions of customers, and its financial troubles have raised questions about the stability of Britain's water sector. A government willing to change the law or take the company into public ownership could reshape how essential water services are managed and regulated.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the new environment secretary?
Angela Eagle is the new environment secretary, according to the Guardian.
Is Thames Water going to be taken into public ownership?
Angela Eagle confirmed that ministers were prepared to take Thames Water into public ownership and said 'nothing is off the table,' though no final decision was reported by the Guardian.
Why does the government say it may change the law?
Eagle told the Guardian that Britain's insolvency laws cannot deal with the aggressive behaviour shown by the companies that control Thames Water, indicating a willingness to change the law to enable reform.