Charlie Alford

Thames Water to fight Burnham as ‘temporary nationalisation’ rumours swirl

Post author:Willem Moore
Post published:18 July 2026
Post last modified:18 July 2026

Thames Water has f*cked up so badly that the government may be forced to nationalise it. Rather than holding its hands up and saying sorry, though, it seems the incompetent vultures managing the company are planning to take the government to court. BREAKING: The group of investors engaged in a rescue bid for Thames Water are plotting a legal fight with Andy Burnham's new government over nationalisation. Our city editor @MarkKleinmanSky has the exclusive storyhttps://t.co/SHT8Hbpwmz pic.twitter.com/9rSuAm06yV — Sky News (@SkyNews) July 18, 2026 Thames Water the focus of scandals upon scandals Thames Water is arguably one of the worst companies operating…

Water failure now top threat to UK – where’s the institutional panic?

Post author:Skwawkbox
Post published:18 July 2026
Post last modified:18 July 2026

After decades of under-investment by greedy private water companies, the failure of the UK’s water supply is now the top threat to the UK, alongside a new pandemic. Norwich MP, Clive Lewis, pointed out the news, which he said should “keep you awake at night”. So! “The @UKLabour govt’s National Risk Register now ranks losing our drinking water alongside a PANDEMIC as one of the two biggest threats facing the country” AND @andyburnham @EmmaforWycombe still insist that the private (and bankrupt ) Water Companies are the only solution https://t.co/gqWF1ZyiP7 — Allan Williams (@allanwales2) July 17, 2026 Lewis is right. The 2026…

Thames Water issues massive bonuses to bosses… despite the ban on water bosses’ bonuses

Post author:Grace
Post published:16 July 2026
Post last modified:17 July 2026

Anybody out there remember Ofwat issuing a ban on water bosses’ bonuses at the tail-end of 2025? Well apparently Thames Water doesn’t — it just increased its senior managers’ bonus payouts to an eye-watering £4.1m. As the Canary reported only yesterday, 15 July, the prospect of public ownership is looming over the failed, sewage-spewing water company. The company is currently buried under £18.5 billion of debt, up from £16.8 billion a year ago, and is set to run out of money at the end of the year. What better time for the bosses to cut themselves a nice fat paycheck, eh? Job well…

Environment secretary writes to Ofwat calling out Thames Water deal

Post author:Grace
Post published:16 June 2026
Post last modified:16 June 2026

Thames Water is now even closer to temporary nationalisation after the government objected to a £10bn rescue proposal from its creditors. Ofwat, the UK water regulator, is also feeling the heat, after Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds penned a letter to the watchdog criticising the lenders’ offering. She warns it would fail both the environment and customers. ‘A holiday from the rules’ Thames Water has teetered on the edge of ruin for several years, at this point. It’s currently buried under £20bn in debt, and has faced record fines for dumping untreated sewage into England’s waterways. The company will run out of…

US revenge strikes leave 20k Iranians without water in deadly heat

Post author:Joe Glenton
Post published:10 June 2026
Post last modified:10 June 2026

The US launched revenge-strikes after an Iranian drone knocked out an Apache helicopter on 9 June. The US hit two reservoirs in southern Iran, leaving tens of thousands without drinking water in 40-degree heat. The Geneva Convention insists military forces must distinguish between civilian and military infrastructure. The attack was reported as a footnote by legacy media. NBC said: Around 20,000 Iranians have lost access to drinking water after two reservoirs were reportedly struck in U.S. strikes, according to the Iranian judiciary’s official news agency, Mizan. The news agency reported the development after Abdolhamid Hamzehpour, CEO of Hormozgan Province Water and…

FIFA eases restrictions on bringing water into World Cup stadiums

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:7 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

Following a widespread wave of criticism and objections from fan groups and health experts, FIFA was partially forced to backtrack on its controversial decision to ban water bottles in World Cup 2026 stadiums. It announced that spectators would be permitted to bring one soft, sealed plastic water bottle into matches held in the United States and Canada. The new decision came just days after an amendment to the “Stadium Code of Conduct,” which FIFA had completely banned reusable bottles, justifying the move on security grounds related to the possibility of using bottles and solid objects as projectiles that could pose a…

World Cup — Water bottle ban sparks controversy

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:6 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

The FIFA has sparked widespread controversy with its decision to amend the policy regarding water bottles inside 2026 World Cup stadiums. After initially banning reusable bottles, FIFA later permitted only small, factory-sealed plastic bottles—a move seen as late and contentious, especially given concerns about high temperatures during the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. World Cup security decision sparks controversy According to Reuters, FIFA justified the decision as a security measure intended to prevent bottles or solid objects from being used as projectiles in the stands, part of a broader policy to tighten stadium safety procedures. However, the ban…

FIFA water ban sparks fan backlash ahead of 2026 World Cup

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:5 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

Fans attending the 2026 World Cup will not be allowed to bring reusable water bottles into stadiums. The latest restriction introduced by FIFA has sparked criticism and concerns about temperatures across the tournament’s hottest host cities. This year’s tournament features 48 teams for the first time. It will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As a result, several matches are expected to be played in high temperatures and humidity. What has changed in stadium rules? Under the new regulations, fans cannot bring reusable water bottles into venues. However, previously, spectators could carry transparent, empty plastic bottles up to…

Private water company fined record £2m over hospitalising parasite outbreak

Post author:Cameron Baillie
Post published:4 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

One privately-owned water company has been fined almost £2m after it was found that its water supply was infested with the dangerous parasite cryptosporidium. The outbreak affected Brixham in Devon. The private utility firm was sentenced to this record fine for a drinking water offence at Exeter Magistrates’ Court. The prosecution was brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). The privately-owned firm plead guilty to supplying water unfit for human consumption at an earlier hearing, offering a “full and unreserved apology”. Four people were hospitalised out of an astonishing 140 confirmed cases of sickness and diarrhoea during the 54-day incident around…

Private water company leaves thousands dry amid record May heatwave

Post author:Cameron Baillie
Post published:30 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

One privately-owned water company left thousands of people in south-east England dry and thirsty this week. This comes amid one of Britain’s hottest-ever May heatwaves. South East Water, which covers much of Kent, left over 8,000 people without any tap water. The company claimed that nearby reservoirs at Whitstable were at a “critical level” due to “extremely high demand”. The company’s six-figure CEO David Hinton stepped down from his position in early May over consistent failures, shortages and outages but will remain in-post to allow an orderly transition over the summer period. That and, presumably, to keep earning a slice of…

Burnham slammed for saying he won’t renationalise Thames Water

Post author:Alf
Post published:24 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

It’s been widely reported that Andy Burnham wants to ‘renationalise’ vital public industries and utilities. This sounds good, because people hate privatisation, and they want the UK to once more own its own assets. The problem, of course, is that Burnham isn’t planning to renationalise anything, as he keeps admitting: Andy Burnham says we could have a "localised public control option" for Thames Water What does that mean? Who is in charge? Where do the profits go? We need nothing less than permanent PUBLIC OWNERSHIP of Thames Water with households, workers and anti sewage groups on the board pic.twitter.com/0s1OT1mMzz — Cat…