Back to News
‘More public control’: what will Burnham do about water and energy?
UK NewsPoliticsBusinessJuly 8, 2026 at 6:00 AMNational

‘More public control’: what will Burnham do about water and energy?

By Jasper Jolly, Jillian Ambrose and Kiran StaceyThe Guardian - UK News

In the fifth of a series on nationalisation, we look at utilities – including the cost of ending private ownershipWill Burnham ‘go big’ in expanding the role of the state?Atlee: the postwar blueprint that inspires BurnhamHow council housebuilding is central to Burnham’s visionHow Burnham aims to shake up UK transportWhen the former Undertones frontman turned campaigner Feargal Sharkey backed Keir Starmer for prime minister in 2024, he hoped that the Labour leader would be the man to clean up Britain’s polluted rivers and bring the water industry into public ownership – starting with troubled Thames Water.Two years later, Sharkey has been disappointed. Now he is hoping that Andy Burnham will begin the job when he is confirmed as prime minister. Continue reading...

In the fifth of a series on nationalisation, we look at utilities – including the cost of ending private ownership

When the former Undertones frontman turned campaigner Feargal Sharkey backed Keir Starmer for prime minister in 2024, he hoped that the Labour leader would be the man to clean up Britain’s polluted rivers and bring the water industry into public ownership – starting with troubled Thames Water.

Two years later, Sharkey has been disappointed. Now he is hoping that Andy Burnham will begin the job when he is confirmed as prime minister.

Continue reading...