Labour used water industry analysis to argue against nationalisation

Thames Water is seeking to raise the funds it needs to avoid short-term nationalisation. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Rex/Shutterstock

Labour used “economically illiterate” analysis paid for by water companies in order to argue against the nationalisation of the sector in England, the Guardian can reveal.

In an official letter recently sent to anti-sewage groups, civil servants cited a paper by the Social Market Foundation as a reason to avoid nationalisation as part of its review of the sector. The report from 2018 was commissioned by United Utilities, Anglian Water, Severn Trent and South West Water.