The buses would run on time. The trains would be cheaper. And perhaps most of all, the water companies would start providing a far better service. Andy Burnham was vague about most of his promises while campaigning to become Prime Minister. But he was very clear about one thing: back under greater public control, the utilities would start working for the whole country again, and not just for a handful of greedy shareholders. There is one catch. It is turning out to be far more expensive than he realised.

It turns out that taking Thames Water into a form of state ownership doesn’t magically make all its financial problems disappear

It turns out that taking Thames Water into a form........

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