'We needed a plan to got vague policy that leaves failed model intact'

CLEAN water campaigners slammed the findings of a major review into Britain’s water sector for failing to propose the bold reform needed to fix the crumbling industry.

- By Steph Spyro

The report by the Independent Water Commission, led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, will lead to the scrapping of “failed” regulator Ofwat.

Yesterday Environment Secretary Steve Reed said households will “never again” face major water bill hikes as he announced the overhaul.

But James Wallace of campaign group River Action said: “This was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset a broken and corrupted system. Instead, the commission blinked.

“After three decades of privatisation, there is no evidence it can work. The report diagnoses symptoms but avoids the cure, appeasing the vulture capital markets and failing to propose alternative public-benefit investment, ownership and governance models that have been proven across Europe.”

He added: “We needed a credible plan to rescue Britain’s rivers, lakes, and seas — and a clear pathway to bring failing companies like Thames Water into public control. Instead, we've been handed vague policy nudges that leave the current failed privatised company model intact.

“When raw sewage is pouring into our waterways — and reservoirs run dry - tinkering with regulatory half-measures simply isn’t enough to restore public trust.”