As the British people go to the polls to vote in a snap election, reclaiming water management has become a major issue in the British elections. Mainstream economists writing for the Financial Times (FT), Chris Piles and Gill Plimmer’s article (“Nationalisation returns to centre of political debate”, Financial Times, 17 May) clearly shows of the categorical errors mainstream economists make in comparing the merits of public and private water utilities. The Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) has published a briefing to counter those arguments. From 2007 to 2016, the nine regional water and sewerage companies in England have paid over £18 billion in shareholder dividends, producing an upward pressure on pricing and causing an alarming increase in water poverty, so no wonder that the British public are worried about the issue.

As part of the debate also a Guardian article collected the views of the author plus the counter arguments of a private water company.

Also a contribution by the shadow Councilor of the Exchequer John McDonnell

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