Thames Water chief demands clarity from incoming PM Andy Burnham on water policy and funding

Thames Water chief Chris Weston warned that the utility, which serves about 16 million customers in London and the South East, has funding only until October and could run out of cash without a new rescue agreement. The company is negotiating with creditors to extend financing to 2027 and seeks a longer‑term recapitalisation.

Weston asked the prime‑minister‑designate Andy Burnham, who plans a decade‑long programme to renationalise water companies, to state his intentions, saying “the big unknown is what the new prime minister wants to do”. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds had rejected a £10 billion creditor plan. Thames Water posted a pre‑tax profit of £226.4 million for the year, but its net debt rose to £19.77 billion and customer complaints surged after recent tariff hikes.