We Own It

@weownit.org.uk

19921 Followers 348 Following

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. https://weownit.org.uk/people-not-profit https://weownit.org.uk/act-now/donate

Roz Savage MP holding a poster that calls for special administration of Thames Water
Graphic of a BBC News story that says "Most of the sewage spills into England’s waterways in the last two years may have been illegal but gone unpunished, according to new analysis."
Person holding sign calling for special administration of Thames Water near the London Eye.
Picture of Wera Hobhouse holding a poster calling for special administration of Thames Water
A picture of Diane Abbott holding a poster calling for special administration of Thames Water
Graphic with a picture of MPs holding posters calling for Thames Water to be taken into special administration, with text that says "Dear Angela Eagle MP, say NO to Thames Water creditors’ last-ditch attempt to keep the utility privatised"
Headline of a column by Guardian financial editor Nils Pratley. "Burnham has forced greater clarity at Thames Water. Now he must choose". The lede reads "Bondholders are suddenly showing flexibility after 18 wasted months at ailing utility company".
Screenshot of Sky News headline that says "Ex-CEO of Southern Water among four charged with conspiracy to defraud"
Screenshot of a headline from The Guardian: "Thames Water investors offer 'golden share' in bid to head off nationalisation". The lede says "Move would give government veto over big decision and hostile takeovers, after Burnham's call for greater public control.
Graphic that shows a road on which a bus is travelling, with stops at "£2 bus fare cap reinstated", "proper funding for local bus services" and "public ownership of local buses".
A graphic showing that Angela Eagle is the new Environment Secretary, and her top priorities should be "1. Bringing Thames Water into Special Administration, 2. Keeping Thames Water permanently in public ownership - with households and experts on the board"
Headline from The Guardian: "Wessex Water chief pockets above-inflation pay rise despite bonus ban over sewage spills. CEO's pay packet surges to £791,000 as union says public 'sick of obscene pay' and bosses 'feathering own nests'.
Screenshot from Bloomberg UK: Thames Water seeks to hike bills just as Burnham promises change
A graphic that shows the different models of water ownership in Britain, with private ownership in England, Not-for-profit in Wales and public ownership in Scotland
A screenshot of a We Own It post that says "Taking Thames Water into Special Administration is absolutely the right thing to do. BUT selling it back to the private sector or indeed doing anything other than taking it permanently into public ownership would be a grave and unforgivable betrayal. On 5 June @andyburnham told the Guardian “Public ownership is absolutely an option... I would say for Thames Water, that is what should be done.”
List of MPs who signed our letter calling for Special Administration of Thames Water
List of MPs who signed our letter calling for Special Administration of Thames Water
List of MPs who signed our letter calling for Special Administration of Thames Water
Graphic with the pictures of 112 MPs who signed our letter calling for Special Administration of Thames Water
Screenshot of We Own It tweet that says "£7 million is JUST 0.3% of the dividends shareholders of Southern Water have received since the company was privatised. 0.3%. That's it. Water company fines are a disgusting joke. What a debacle privatisation has been for us! Time for public ownership of water."
Screenshot of Bloomberg News headline that says "Burnham to Take Control of Thames Water", and a portion of the aricle that says "Burnham is interested in pursuing an approach similar to mutualization, which would see water companies converted into not-for-profit cooperatives owned and run for the benefit of customers, according to people familiar with the matter. "
Statement from We Own It on the election of Andy Burnham as Labour Leader: "Andy Burnham’s diagnosis of the problem with Britain is absolutely spot on. After 40 years of privatisation, the country is poorer, and our public services are worse. His solution is far from clear. He has spoken about bringing public services under “stronger public control”. But water, energy and mail are already under strong public control, yet billions in dividends continue being extracted. Public control won’t make a difference to whether they work and deliver for us. Only public ownership will. Thames Water is the first test of Burnham’s seriousness about reversing 40 years of privatisation. Public control of water under regulator Ofwat is failing miserably. Supposedly 'not-for-profit' Welsh Water is lining the pockets of faraway bondholders. Only public ownership will ensure that all of our money is being invested into fixing infrastructure and bringing bills down."
Infographic showing the difference between public control and public ownership. Public control - Government regulation decides on prices and services provided. Public ownership - local, regional or national ownership by the public, all profits reinvested. Deregulation (ie zero public control) makes your services even worse. Adding accountability to citizens/households can make services better.
An image with the logos of We Own It, Just Treatment, Global Justice Now and Keep Our NHS public, with text that says "we came together to demand Andy Burnham rip up the US-Uk pharma deal. And show Trump the RED CARD"
Screenshot of BBC headline that says "British Steel taken into public ownership to protect vital UK supply"
Screenshot of a headline from the Daily Mirror of 15 July: "Thames Water boss insists he 'deserves' huge pay rise despite rising bills and complaints. The inflation-busting leap came despite Thames Water being fined for missing pollution targets, average bills soaring by a third last year, and customer complaints rocketing 77%."
Screenshot of a headline from Utility Week: "Thames can survive until end of year but debt swells to £18bn" over a picture of the Thames Water logo dissolving into a drain.
Headline from Utility Week "Thames rescue: creditors revising £10bn rescue deal after Ofwat kicks back"
Campaigners carrying posters that call for Andy Burnham to cancel the US-Uk pharma deal
A screenshot of Morning Star headline that says "campaigners call on Burnham to 'red card' pharma deal with US"
Canary News headline that says "'Red' - campaigners stage stunt calling for Burnham to rip up US-UK pharma deal"
Screenshot of Sky News headline that says "South East Water facing £30.5m penalty for multiple failures"
Graphic that includes a picture of Clive Lewis MP and Charlie Maynard MP, with text that says "Clive Lewis MP (Lab) and Charlie Maynard MP (LibDem) handed in a letter signed by 112 MPs calling for Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds to take Thames Water into Special Administration"
A collage of pictures of campaigners carrying a sign that says "229,000 deaths" with John McDonnell showing a person in a Donald Trump mask a red card that says No Deal.