I showed my support for the GMB’s Take Back The Tap campaign which aims to put Britain’s water industry back into public hands. Our utilities have been sold off and run for private profit, not for the public good. Water bills have increased 40% in the 25 years after privatisation. Over the last ten years, the English water companies have paid out more than £18 billion in dividends to shareholders. This money could have been invested or used to reduce bills by around £100 a year per household – the equivalent of a 25% reduction.

Labour’s plan is to create a network of regional publicly-owned water companies run by local councils, workers and customers. The new water companies will systematically reinvest any surplus in water infrastructure and staff or use it to reduce bills and operate with the highest environmental standards.

This is part of the Labour Party’s wider plan to bring key utilities back into public ownership to deliver lower prices, more accountability and a more sustainable economy. Labour has also pledged to renationalise the rail companies, The Royal Mail and the UK’s energy system.