Private investors and hedgefunds want imunity from environmental laws to enable them to pump shit into our rivers and seas with impunity. They also want to be able to raise prices.
So lets be honest – the public has allowed the privatised water companies to raise fund via debts to pay shareholders and executive wages/bonus. Nationalisation will require government funding to replace the infrastructure neglected by greed for 46 years. Nationalisation is not a cheap option – it could have an impact on foreign investment, BUT it is the moral and sensible investment. If nationalised the government should offer ownership to the bill payers, like John Lewis or the co-op. Each £500 paid = 1 share. Not paying dividends at present, but guaranteeing a payout if the companies were ever sold off again?
There are a host of vultures willing to take on Thames Water if the government gives them a free ticket – well tell them to fuck off, and then go further.