The Workers Party of Britain (WPB) London Branch condemns the decision by Ofwat to approve a 36% increase in water bills over the next five years, pushing average annual bills to £597 by 2030. This move prioritizes corporate profits and shareholder dividends while placing an undue burden on working people already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.
Ofwat claims this £104 billion investment will address aging infrastructure and improve environmental standards. However, this announcement comes after years of unchecked environmental failures, including 3.6 million hours of sewage dumping into rivers last year. River Action’s criticism highlights a bitter truth: while customers are forced to foot the bill for overdue upgrades, the water industry’s shareholders have extracted over £85 billion in dividends since privatization.
The promised improvements ring hollow when coupled with the industry’s appalling environmental record and ongoing executive bonuses, even as fines for “unjustified” dividend payouts—such as Thames Water’s £18.2 million penalty—underscore systemic mismanagement.
The approved increases will disproportionately affect low-income households, who are already struggling under the weight of rising energy, housing, and grocery costs. While companies like Southern Water will see bills rise by as much as 53%, the promise of increased customer support is insufficient. Tripling the number of households eligible for assistance is merely a band-aid on a gaping wound inflicted by privatization and regulatory failure.
The WPB London Branch demands an immediate freeze on water bill increases and calls for a public inquiry into the mismanagement of the water industry. We support River Action’s position that the public should not bear the cost of fixing a crisis created by decades of underinvestment and profiteering.
“Furthermore, we reaffirm our commitment to re-nationalizing the water industry. It is clear that private ownership has failed to deliver for consumers or the environment. Water is a public good, not a corporate commodity” said Sam Habeeb, Workers Party Leader in London
He further argued that, “the government and regulators must choose between protecting the public or continuing to serve the interests of corporate shareholders. We stand unequivocally for the former.”
Contact:
Workers Party of Britain – London Branch
Email: info@wplondon.org.uk
Phone: 0333 33 55 782
Website: https://wplondon.org.uk
