6 May 2026
You might have a lot on your mind as you consider where to place your vote in this week’s local council elections.
Of course, councils have very limited power when it comes to the ownership of utilities.
But what they can do is place pressure on central government through passing motions.
Over the course of the past year, many councils in the Thames Water region have passed motions calling for public ownership of Thames Water, and committing to write to the Secretary of State for Environment with this demand.
These motions are further evidence of the ever-growing popularity of public ownership of water.
They are also evidence of where many Labour-led councils are pulling away from this Labour government’s policy of refusing to consider public ownership of water.
That’s as well as the 39 Labour MPs who have signed our open letter calling for Special Administration of Thames Water. And the growing number of Labour MPs - like Barry Gardiner and Will Stone - who are breaking ranks with party policy and explicitly calling for public ownership of water.
This Labour government is facing strong and growing opposition on water from within its own party, as well as from the public - something all councils can be instrumental in building.
These Labour-led councils have all passed motions calling for public ownership of Thames Water
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Haringey council passed a motion to scrap the private ownership model and replace it with public or mutual companies, in July 2025
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Lewisham council called for Special Administration and Nationalisation of Thames Water, in October 2025. You can read the news story about it here
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Newham council called for public ownership of Thames Water in October 2025
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Southwark council called for permanent public ownership in November 2025
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Oxford City Council (a minority Labour administration) called for water to be brought into public hands in November 2025
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Swindon council called for Thames Water to be nationalised in March 2026. You can read about it here.
Every single council - no matter what political party it is led by - should be calling for public ownership of water.
Do you want your council to pass a motion calling for public ownership of your local water company? Send us an email at info@weownit.org.uk, and we can help you.
