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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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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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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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“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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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#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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🚨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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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 27/09/2026

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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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 · 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

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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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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

"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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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 22/09/2026

We need 12 people to make sure that Labour party delegates hear the case for publicly owned water. Can YOU be one of them? 🗓️Monday 28th September 🕗8am - 10am 📍Keel Wharf, toward the Wheel of Liverpool Fill in the form to sign up and join us vist.ly/5jemf

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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 22/09/2026

Hedge funds or households? TIME TO DECIDE Can you join our protest at Labour Party Conference next week, asking Labour MPs to vote on what should happen next for Thames Water? 🗓️Monday 28th September 🕗8am - 10am 📍Keel Wharf, toward the Wheel of Liverpool 1/2

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Your regular reminder that almost all of us reject NHS privatisation - no matter who we vote for

Graphic that shows voters oppose NHS privatisation regardless of party. 91% of Labour voters support full public ownership of our NHS, 84% of Conservatives, 97% of Green voters, 94% of Liberal Democrat voters, and 79% of Reform voters

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BREAKING: Chiltern Railways comes into public ownership TODAY This is wonderful news. But let's be clear: public ownership of train operating companies is a powerful first step, but it's ONLY a first step We must end rolling stock privatisation, outsourcing of station services and cut fares.

Graphic that says "Chiltern Railways comes into public ownership"

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We have no choice but to use our water company. Abtisam Mohamed is absolutely spot on This monopoly has failed for years, yet the government allows them to keep our water It's time for this to change. Bring water into public ownership

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This is such a powerful speech from Chris Hinchliff There are many reasons why we must bring our water into public ownership. NATIONAL SECURITY and DEMOCRACY are not mentioned enough

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When we go into an NHS hospital, we want to be able to trust that our health is the number one priority - not a private company's profits Tony Sullivan is absolutely spot on. It is time to end NHS privatisation

Graphic with quote from Tony Sullivan, co-chair of Keep Our NHS Public: "“When commercial incentives enter healthcare, robust safeguards, transparency and public accountability are essential, and in this case they catastrophically failed. The Government must urgently examine whether outsourcing and payment structures are putting patients at risk.”

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Is it too much to ask for water companies to have more actual engineers than financial engineers? Labour MPs are speaking out for public ownership of water It is time for Andy Burnham to bring our water into public hands

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The government keeps trying to make water privatisation work After 37 years, it's time to accept that it has comprehensively failed. The Green Party and Adrian Ramsay fully understand that Andy Burnham's words show he also understands this, but it is time for action

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