Thames Water: Lib Dems Call It Sinking Ship

Lib Dems say Thames Water is ‘a sinking ship’ during party leader Sir Ed Davey’s latest rafting stunt at a country park in Berkshire.

Lib Dems have branded Thames Water ‘a sinking ship’ during party leader Sir Ed Davey’s recent rafting stunt at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Berkshire.

Sir Ed, joined by Clive Jones, the Lib Dem MP for Wokingham, and councillor Katrin Harding, highlighted the water company’s failures while building a raft on Black Swan Lake.

Unlike his previous paddleboarding mishap at Lake Windermere last year, this time he stayed dry. Sir Ed remarked, “Clive has been campaigning hard on sewage issues, and we want to send a strong message about Thames Water’s poor performance. They’re seeking permission for more inflation-busting bill increases while not addressing sewage and pipe leaks. It’s time to pull the plug on Thames Water and push for administration.”

Mr Jones echoed this sentiment, stating, “Thames Water is on course for bankruptcy. We’re already paying a third of our bills just to service their debt. They need restructuring into a public interest company.”

A spokesperson for Thames Water responded, asserting that investing in services and supporting customers is crucial. They claimed, “To deliver clean water and manage wastewater for millions, we must invest in our infrastructure. We’re helping around 450,000 customers with their bills, and by 2030, one in ten households will receive support, including discounts.”

They added that putting the company into administration would not resolve its issues and could lead to higher costs and disrupted improvements.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter