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We Own It

@weownit.org.uk
20K followers 359 following 1.7K posts

After 40 years, privatisation of our public services has failed. It's time for public ownership. We use it, we pay for it, We Own It. weownit.org.uk/people-not-profit weownit.org.uk/act-now/donate

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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 2h
Labour blocked a motion calling for public ownership of water So we asked their conference delegates outside what they want Andy Burnham to do with the failed Thames Water
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 3h
Public ownership is a unifying proposition. If Andy Burnham is serious about consensus politics, then public ownership is the best place to start. #labour26 And we have the manual for him: vist.ly/5kg2j
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 4h
Councils spent £42.8bn on adult and children’s social care last year — almost 72% of their combined core spending. In some councils, children’s social care alone accounted for as much as 44% of core budgets. 1/4
theguardian.com
Sixteen English councils spend more than 80% of core funding on social care
Councils collectively spent record 71.9% of core spending on adult and children’s care last year, analysis shows
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 5h
The profiteering from children’s social care is OUT OF CONTROL 💷Hundreds of millions in profits for big private-equity-backed providers 💰Senior civil servant owning shares in children’s care provider Add your name to demand an end to profit in children’s care: vist.ly/5kg88
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 6h
Andy Burnham has said the new water bill will “start a 10-year journey to a very different water system". He has an open goal with Thames Water. The company is insolvent. The legislation already exists to effect the transition to public ownership. Don't kick the can down the road - start now.
independent.co.uk
PM announces new law to allow public ownership of water firms
Mayors will also be given new powers to hold failing water firms to account.
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 7h
“Andy Burnham” asked Labour delegates and MPs what he should do with Thames Water ✅99% said public ownership NOW ❌1% said hand over to US hedge funds Andy Burnham, Labour voters and members demand public ownership, not public control or regulation
A picture of a campaigner wearing an Andy Burnham mask standing between two boxes in which Labour delegates put balls to indicate  whether they want Andy Burnham to bring Thames Water into public ownership or hand it over to private hedge funds. 99% voted to bring it into public ownership.
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 22h
“Thames Water should have been in special administration yesterday... How can this Government be serious about their promise to reverse Thatcher’s legacy of privatisation, if they are not urgently bringing it into public hands?” www.standard.co.uk/business/bus...
standard.co.uk
PM announces new law to allow public ownership of water firms
Mayors will also be given new powers to hold failing water firms to account.
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 29/09/2026
No one should be making a profit from children's care Add your name to our petition calling for an end to profit in children's social care: vist.ly/5kcqu
Screenshot of a We OWn It tweet that says "A National Care Service is long overdue and a welcome step.   But if we're serious about building a care system that works, children's social care must be at the heart of it.   Right now, an average children's home placement costs councils around £404k per year.   And in 2021/22, the largest independent children's social care providers recorded £310 million in profit, from the public purse.   Andy Burnham is right to say that we need a system with “care that is about people, not profit”. Reforms of social care must end profit in children’s social care.   No one should be making profit from the the most vulnerable children."
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Honestly I am gutted Burnham STILL hasn't brought Thames Water into special administration Why not? It went bust 2+ years ago Shareholders have walked away US hedge fund creditors want to pollute illegally then sell it 16 million so-called "customers" need you to TAKE IT BACK
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 29/09/2026
Public ownership was a big feature of Andy Burnham's speech at #Labour26. Here's how we can afford it. Find out more by reading our new report vist.ly/5kc6q
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 29/09/2026
Repealing Margaret Thatcher's ban on public ownership of water companies is wonderful But it means absolutely nothing if he does not then bring water into public ownership Our response to Andy Burnham's #LabourConference speech
A We OWn It tweet that says "🚨BREAKING  Andy Burnham has just announced that he will repeal Margaret Thatcher’s ideological ban on public ownership of water companies. This is good news, and a sign of just how intensely this government is feeling the pressure from the public.  But this means absolutely nothing if he does not then bring water into public ownership.  Instead, Burnham’s speech doubled down on regulation as a way to fix the crisis in our water system.  This is doomed to fail. When water companies are fined, they pass them on to us. When bonuses are banned, they call them something else.   Burnham has an open goal with Thames Water. The company is insolvent. And the only option to keep it privatised is to hand it over to US hedge funds.  Yet Burnham has failed to take them on today.  Andy Burnham must take Thames Water into special administration and keep it in permanent public ownership. And he can use legislation to make it easier to bring other water companies ..."
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Andy Burnham must take public services into PUBLIC OWNERSHIP (not just public control) Including water monopolies, energy monopolies and care💧⚡️👨‍⚕️ Force companies to deliver on their duties LET THEM GO BUST when they don't END PRIVATISATION 👇 weownit.org.uk/research-and...
weownit.org.uk
How and why Andy Burnham should deliver public ownership
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Respect for Andy Burnham promising a new National Care Service Good to see him saying it will be "care that is about people not profit" Burnham should also insource ALL private contracts back into the NHS End privatisation and REINSTATE THE NHS as a fully public service
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 29/09/2026
In 2022, the biggest 20 providers of children’s social care made £310 million in profits. At Labour Conference we're calling on Josh MacAlister OBE MP, Minister for Children and Families, to end private profit in children's social care in England. #Labour26 Sign the petition: vist.ly/5kai6
A We Own It stand outside Labour Conference: Councils are paying £7,772 a week for an average children's home placement.A We Own It stand outside Labour Conference: Wales is ending profit in children's care. Why not England?
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 29/09/2026
Privatised railway rolling stock's a cash cow & a total rip off. It’s fantastic news that the government is now making it possible to take back our trains. Other countries own their own trains and we should do the same. This is a smart decision for the long term future of the railway. #Labour26
mirror.co.uk
All new trains could be publicly owned under Labour rail nationalisation plans
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says the government will consider whether to make all new trains taxpayer owned after private leasing firms rake in billions of pounds
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
41% - not for profit Welsh Water's financing costs vs 8% - publicly owned Scottish Water's financing costs We can't afford NOT to have public ownership - and it's the norm in 9/10 water systems globally www.ft.com/content/6b1f...
ft.com
Non-profit model won’t fix water industry, says boss of non-profit utility
Welsh Water has fallen short on sewage pollution, despite having no shareholders for over two decades, chief acknowledges
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This makes no sense to me Will GB Grid OWN any of the infrastructure? How can it "compete" in the natural monopoly that is energy transmission + distribution? Sounds like the public coughs up while privatised grid keeps getting profit margins of 38% ⁉️ www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Burnham to announce government-backed body to invest in electricity grid
Exclusive: Creation of GB Grid will be major step towards putting Britain’s utility companies into public control
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 28/09/2026
Avanti West Coast is joining 10 other train operating companies in public ownership in March next year This is wonderful news for passengers. We deserve a railway that works for us, not shareholders The government must go further - deliver public ownership of rolling stock and proper investment
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 28/09/2026
Bringing rail rolling stock into public ownership just makes sense The government clearly understands it. They shouldn't just explore it, they must deliver it
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 28/09/2026
This morning, 99% of delegates polled at Labour Conference said that Thames Water should be brought into public ownership. It's SO obvious what the public want. Now it's time for Andy Burnham to do it. #labour26
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Thames Water: Andy Burnham should nationalise this failed monopoly | Editorial
strongEditorial:/strong Bill payers should not fund another rescue for financiers of the water industry. Public ownership can end the cycle of extraction and failure
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 28/09/2026
We asked delegates at #Labourconference to cast their vote on the future of Thames Water. The result? 99 votes in favour of public ownership for the failed company. #Labour26 Give your MP the facts on the future of Thames Water - send them our MP briefing. vist.ly/5k6se
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 28/09/2026
#LabourConference MPs and delegates have sent Andy Burnham a clear message today. Get Thames Water sorted and put into public ownership - don't give it up to US Hedge Funds. #labour26
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 28/09/2026
🚨BREAKING Heidi Alexander has just announced that, for the first time since rail privatisation, the government will consider public ownership of rolling stock for all new trains This is wonderful news. They shouldn't only consider it; they should deliver it
We OWn It statement on rolling stock announcement: “Other countries own their own trains, and we should do the same. This is a super smart decision for the long term future of the railway.  “Ownership of the trains is the most profitable part of the railway. We need to own these assets directly so that passengers can benefit with money going in instead of leaking out.  “Rolling stock ownership is key to making public ownership of our railway successful. ”
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Passionate, inspiring speech @heidialexander.bsky.social The trains (rolling stock) on our railway are still privatised and they're the most profitable bit 💰💰💰 Today the government announces Great British Railways will start OWNING TRAINS for benefit of passengers + public! 🚄🎉🚄🎉🚄🎉
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 28/09/2026
We've been at Labour Conference today asking MPs to show what they think should happen to Thames Water by voting - public ownership, or handing it over to US hedge funds. This is how the vote went... Find out more about the future for Thames Water: read our MP briefing vist.ly/5k5te
A stand at Labour Conference. In the middle a placard saying "What do you think should happen to Thames Water. Vote now". On the left is a perspex container filled with coloured balls - for the "Public Ownership now" vote. On the right, an identical perspex container for the "Hand it over to US Hedge funds" vote. It contains one ball.
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Fare Free London @farefreelondon.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Free public transport schemes are spreading across Asia, after the fuel price increases this year bit.ly/468RoyH. Join us on 29th September 7pm to talk about how to achieve free public transport in London. Register via this link: bit.ly/4iSHTLt
bit.ly
Asia’s free public transport
Free public transport schemes sweep across Asia. Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh city (population 14 million) has added the metro to a fare-free scheme that already covers its entire bus network. The scheme runs until the end of 2026.  India: there are now eight states offering free bus travel to women. Tamil Nadu joined Punjab, Karnataka, […]
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 27/09/2026
Public CONTROL is NOT public OWNERSHIP, and here's why We explain this and how Andy Burnham can deliver public ownership in our NEW REPORT Can you take just 2 mins now to send it to your MP? vist.ly/5k384
A Screenshot of a portion of We Own It's new report that says "Why public ownership rather than public control? Would you rather own your home than rent it? If so, you have some idea of the benefits of ownership rather than, say, rent controls.  Ownership means you have an asset that increases in value over time, you are using your monthly mortgage payment for your own benefit and you have full control - you can paint the walls any colour you like.  This is a household analogy that holds. When countries own public assets and services, they are wealthier, they can benefit from revenue streams from household bills and they have the real control that only ownership can provide."
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 27/09/2026
Let's face it, Keir Starmer's premiership failed because he didn't take on the private vested interests Andy Burnham can chart a new path for his government by delivering public ownership. Our NEW REPORT explains how Take 2 mins to send it to your MP now: vist.ly/5j2jn
Graphic with a picture of campaigners holding a banner calling for public ownership of water, with text that says "“A government that takes on this [public ownership] battle will inevitably be told by private lobbyists, established civil servants and compromised advisors that public ownership cannot be done. But the public will not be fooled and they will not forgive you for attempting to dodge the question of ownership.”"
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 27/09/2026
Reject the defeatist lie that it's too hard to take our public services into public hands Our NEW REPORT explains how Andy Burnham can deliver public ownership Take 2 mins to send it to your MP now: vist.ly/5j26v Thank you so much, John MacDonnell, for your strong support
Screenshot of a tweet by John MacDonnell that says "This new report from  @We_OwnIt   should add pace to the development of Labour's commitment to public ownership. Decades of experience have proved control of essential services and natural resources will not be enough. Ownership not regulation has to be the way forward."
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 26/09/2026
They keep lying about public ownership of water Thank goodness we have fighters like Feargal Sharkey to call them out on this lie every time Make sure your MP has the facts. Take 2 minutes now to send them our NEW REPORT on how Andy Burnham can deliver public ownership: vist.ly/5jytv
Screenshot of a Feargal sharkey tweet that says ""Thatcher Minister Defends Water Selloff Despite Thames Crisis."  Let's be clear about this renationalising the water industry does not force water company investment to compete with other demands on the public purse like the NHS or education. Frankly that's a lie.  We, the consumer, the bill payer, we are already paying for all this today, upfront, now. EG over the next 5 years we the bill players are financing 99% of the so called investment, paying for it directly from our water bills, that's why they gone up so much, it's not coming from shareholders, not from govt, not from tax payers but from us, directly from our bills.  When will they stop making this stuff up?"
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 26/09/2026
“People want public ownership, not just public control — which really just means more regulation when it comes to water and energy. No dodging of the issue, no compromise." - Cat Hobbs Read our report on how Andy Burnham can deliver public ownership: vist.ly/5jy99
Graphic with a screenshot of a Morning Star headline that says "Nothing less than full renationalisation, campaigners tell Burnham New report urges PM to ‘reverse Thatcher’s 40-year legacy of privatisation’"
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 26/09/2026
Not one single new reservoir has been completed in England since privatisation This is a national security issue, and many MPs have been raising the alarm about it Our NEW REPORT explains how Andy Burnham can deliver public ownership so we can invest in our water: vist.ly/5jy48
Screenshot of a Financial Times headline that says "Blow for drought-hit England as opening of new reservoir delayed by 5 years"
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 25/09/2026
Who benefits from privatisation? DEFINITELY NOT YOU Private shareholders have made a killing from our public services since privatisation. Andy Burnham is right: Britain took a wrong turn in the 1980s Our new report explains how Andy Burnham can deliver public ownership: vist.ly/5jvjg
Graphic that shows Private companies have made nearly £200 billion in dividends out of our public services since the 1980s
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 25/09/2026
Andy Burnham is right: in the 1980s Britain took a "wrong turn" by privatising life's essentials Our bills have gone up along with shareholder dividends, while the quality of the service has fallen Our NEW REPORT explains how Andy Burnham can deliver public ownership: vist.ly/5jtkd
Screenshot of a Utility Week headline that says "Campaign tells government to ‘squeeze’ utilities and enforce public ownership: Campaign group We Own It is pressing the Prime Minister to consider taking water companies and electricity networks into public ownership, proposing a strategy of "squeezing" them until they become unprofitable. The report suggests a model where 100% of profits are reinvested in services, with governance structures including representation from households and environmental organisations."
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 25/09/2026
Our new report explains HOW and WHY @andyburnham.bsky.social should deliver public ownership - not just public control Take back our assets by forcing private companies to deliver LET THEM GO BUST when they fail, so the UK can own its public services 💧💡🚄🚌🏥📮 weownit.org.uk/research-and...
weownit.org.uk
How and why Andy Burnham should deliver public ownership
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Comment in the Guardian today refers to British Leyland - hasn't existed since 1986 - as a reason not to bring Thames Water into public ownership Meanwhile in 2026, PUBLICLY OWNED Ordnance Survey is just quietly getting on with the job 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Ordnance Survey mapping data helps identify future wildfire risk
Britain's mapping service provides data that could help predict the risk of future wildfires.
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
What an absolutely ridiculous conversation England is having about its extreme ideological experiment with privatisation It's really not that complicated 9 out of 10 water systems worldwide are in public ownership (1/6) www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Andy Burnham talks about ‘public control’ of the utilities but it’s a minefield. We can lead him through it | Will Hutton and Andy Haldane
Nationalisation is not the ultimate answer for companies like Thames Water – but they could be run for the public benefit, say journalist and economist Will Hutton and former chief economist of the Ba...
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 24/09/2026
Andy Burnham has promised to reverse Thatcher’s legacy of privatisation Our short NEW report outlines how he can practically deliver public ownership. Take 2 mins to send our report to your MP now: vist.ly/5jqvg
weownit.org.uk
Andy Burnham can deliver public ownership: Share our NEW report with your MP
Your MP can be one of the MPs telling the Prime Minister that he has to deliver public ownership.
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Our new report in @mstaronline.bsky.social today No dodging of the issue, no compromise. Ownership is key. If we don’t own the asset, we don’t get the benefit of revenue streams from bills and we don’t really have control morningstaronline.co.uk/article/we-o...
morningstaronline.co.uk
Nothing less than full renationalisation, campaigners tell Burnham
ANDY BURNHAM has been urged to ditch his “worse than useless” plans to create regional water boards and commit to fully renationalising Thames Water, energy companies and the Royal Mail.The prime mini...
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 24/09/2026
🔥8320 people have already sent our response to Ofwat's bill hike consultation Our water bills have more than doubled since 1990. In return we got: 💩Sewage-filled rivers 💧3 billion litres wasted daily 💷£90 billion taken out in dividends Send the response now: vist.ly/5jq7n
Quote from Andy Burnham: "Households “have been asked to pay more for years, yet serious pollution incidents are at record levels and the pipes are still leaking... Customers cannot be treated as a blank cheque. Where water companies seek to pass unnecessary costs on to households, they will be challenged.”"
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 24/09/2026
“People want public ownership not just public control — which really just means more regulation when it comes to water and energy. No dodging of the issue, no compromise. Ownership is key." - @cathobbs.bsky.social Read our report on how Andy Burnham delivers public ownership: vist.ly/5jpcv
Graphic with a screenshot of a Morning Star headline that says "Nothing less than full renationalisation, campaigners tell Burnham New report urges PM to ‘reverse Thatcher’s 40-year legacy of privatisation’"
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 24/09/2026
For 40 years, our public services have delivered for shareholders, pension funds and private equity - and squeezed us It is time for legislation to force them to RAISE THEIR GAME OR GO BUST, and then take them into public ownership Read our NEW REPORT: vist.ly/5jnq4
A graphic with thee picture of Cat Hobbs, We Own It Director, and text that says "“Our key recommendation is that the government should use legislation - in particular an expanded special administration regime - to take back our assets by holding the current owners to account. Regulation cannot be a wishy washy compromise with the status quo.”
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Deadline: midnight today ⏰ NO MORE water bills increases Let them go bust, take over the failed companies
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
When the privatised monopolies running our public services fail to deliver or run out of £££ the government must LET THEM GO BUST AND TAKE THEM BACK You can choose UK households Or you can choose shareholders around the world But you can't please both weownit.org.uk/research-and...
weownit.org.uk
How and why Andy Burnham should deliver public ownership
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 24/09/2026
📣 NEW REPORT launching today! 40 years of Thatcher's privatisation policies have failed at your expense 💧💡🚅🚌🏥📮 Time for public OWNERSHIP (not just public control) 👇 weownit.org.uk/research-and...
weownit.org.uk
How and why Andy Burnham should deliver public ownership
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 23/09/2026
There's no poll like a Martin Lewis poll! 20,000 people replied to his FB poll on privatisation of the water industry. It's clear how his followers feel - NOBODY thought there were benefits for consumers or business. That's a big fat👎for the water companies. It's time for public ownership.
Results of this week's Martin Lewis poll on Facebook, where he asked: "Today's Poll: Do you believe the privatisation of the water industry in many parts of the UK has overall been positive for consumers or businesses (excluding the water industry itself) or has it been negative all round? "Positive for consumers only" click LIKE emoticon "Positive for business only" click LOVE emoticon "Positive for both" click CARE emoticon "Negative all round" click HAHA emoticon." 15,570 people chose HAHA, 4,698 chose Love, and nobody thought that privatisation had been positive.
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 23/09/2026
Dear Prime Minister @andyburnham.bsky.social & Environment Secretary @angelaeagle1.bsky.social Your candidate in Holborn & St Pancras is calling for public ownership of Thames Water. The Chair of the Labour Party re-posted it. Is this now official Party policy? Yours sincerely, The general public
Screenshot of a repost by Bridget Phillipson, Chair of the Labour Party, of a video by Holborn & St Pancras  candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali endorsing public ownership of Thames Water.
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 23/09/2026
Ofwat is trying to increase bills again. You have until midnight on Thursday 24th September to be a part of stopping them. Ofwat has already signed off on 36% bill increases in the 2025-2030 period. But 5 water companies want more. Use our template to tell them NO MORE BILL HIKES.
weownit.org.uk
We're telling Ofwat: let water companies go bust!
consultation to reject proposed water company bill increases. Ofwat.
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 23/09/2026
"Around 1/3 of our bills are going to servicing debt & dividend payouts...there’s no way that inviting US hedge funds into our water system will make bills go down. “People want to see Andy Burnham pick a fight, like he did with the bus companies”. We Own It in Big Issue: vist.ly/5jhh3
Headline from Big Issue, 22 September 2026: "Hedge funds want to take control of Thames Water. What could it mean for bills? More than 100 creditors are bidding to take control of Thames Water as MPs call for the government to reject the deal."
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 22/09/2026
LET THEM GO BUST Tell Ofwat that water companies shouldn’t get any more of our money. No more bill hikes. Let them go bust and bring them into public ownership. ✍️ Take 2 mins to complete the consultation Deadline⏱️: midnight on Thursday 24th September vist.ly/5jey7
Social media posts discuss government bailouts, water rights, and privatization.
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