Andy Burnham has outlined a potential 10-year strategy to bring the water industry back into public ownership, arguing that such reform is essential to prioritise public interest.
The Greater Manchester mayor, currently campaigning in the Makerfield by-election for a return to Parliament – a move that could pave the way for a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership – detailed his approach on Tuesday.
He clarified that he would not advocate for immediate, full renationalisation due to its complexity and expense, instead suggesting a staggered implementation.
Speaking to reporters in Makerfield, Mr Burnham stated his belief that the “industry is broken”.
He said: “It’s not an industry that’s run in the public interest, and you know these are, as I say, industries run with the private vested interest, but the public have no choice but to use them, and therefore they’re trapped, and it’s just not fair.
“That’s why we need substantial reform and it is about a 10-year plan of more public control, more public ownership.
“I don’t think you nationalise the whole thing necessarily straight off, because that’s complicated and probably expensive, but you look at the different situations in different parts of the country.
“Thames Water, I would say there’s a very strong case for public ownership to sort out its problems.
“But elsewhere … then you know there can be a different timetable for changes in other parts of the country. You’ve got to do it in a way that can be managed financially, but gets us to a water industry that puts the public interest rather than the private interest first.”
Soaring water bills, sewage spills and disruptions to supply have contributed to public frustration with water companies.
He said he had been speaking to Makerfield residents affected by flooding and that the whole area needs “substantial infrastructure investment” to take the flood risk away.
Mr Burnham, a former cabinet minister, has promised a vote for him in Makerfield would be a vote to “change Labour”.
He is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership if he returns to Westminster as an MP.
But he has ruled out calling a snap election if he enters Downing Street, a spokesperson has said.
Sir Keir has said he will go out campaigning for his party colleague in the by-election but Mr Burnham told reporters he did not know when the Prime Minister would be up in the constituency to help.
He said: “Obviously, I’m setting out a campaign that’s about changing politics, so that we can change the country, and anyone who supports what I’m saying and the objective of the campaign is obviously welcome to join the campaign.
“But it is a change by-election, and I don’t want anybody to be under any illusions about that. I’m not spending my time doing the traditional point-scoring – the Tories this, Reform that.”
People sent a “very big message” to Labour in May’s local elections that they are “not happy” and “feel the party’s out of touch”, he said.
Speaking to Sky News, he said he was in favour of significant welfare reform.
He said he agreed with Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden that “who can we tax to pay benefits to others” is the wrong question.
“Well, those are the wrong questions, definitely, because I’m actually in favour of quite significant reform to the system. I think the DWP system doesn’t support people into work,” he said.
He repeatedly sidestepped questions about his leadership ambitions while declining to say whether he would serve in Sir Keir’s cabinet if elected as an MP.
Mr Burnham is one of 14 candidates standing in the election, which was triggered when Labour’s Josh Simons stood down.
The vote is expected to be a race between Mr Burnham and Reform UK’s candidate, Robert Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor.
