Chronological coverage updated 3rd October 2026 13:45.
Update 1 · 3rd October 2026
UK Greens Propose Immediate Nationalisation of Water Utilities Without Compensation
The Green Party of England and Wales has announced a policy to bring Thames Water and South East Water back into public ownership immediately and without paying compensation to shareholders or creditors. Speaking at the party's conference, Deputy Leader Rachel Millward declared that a Green administration would complete the takeover before Christmas at no cost to taxpayers, citing the companies' financial insolvency and operational failures.
Rejection of Labour's reform timeline
Millward criticized Prime Minister Andy Burnham's recently proposed 10-year strategy of regulatory oversight, describing gentle threats of control as inadequate to fix systemic water industry issues. She highlighted ongoing domestic supply outages in Sussex, where residents have had to drive to pick up bottled water, and noted that no major reservoir has been built in the country since privatisation 35 years ago.
The Guardian reportedly quoted Rachel Millward (Deputy Leader of the Green Party) as saying: “Forget compensation for shareholders and creditors, these are insolvent companies.”.
Youth policy and political contrast
In additional conference announcements, co-deputy leader Mothin Ali unveiled a guaranteed jobs policy for every young person aged 18 to 24. Ali also called for a national emergency declaration in response to rising anti-migrant demonstrations and public intimidation reported in coastal towns such as Southampton and Dover.
The Green proposals set up a sharp contrast ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch is preparing to announce plans to fund 50,000 new prison places by reducing the UK's overseas aid budget to £1 billion per year, while raising the income threshold for family childcare benefit eligibility.
- The Green Party advocates taking immediate control of Thames Water and South East Water without compensating private investors.
- The party rejects 10-year regulatory plans, pointing to persistent sewage dumping, high debt, and lack of reservoir construction since privatisation.
- Concurrently, the Conservative Party is preparing conference pledges on prison expansion and foreign aid reductions.
