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Politics · Burnham's Labour conference announcements

Burnham announces repeal of ban on public ownership of water companies

In his first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham said the government would repeal a ban on public ownership of water companies. Coverage is thin: one business report and one opinion column.

2 outlets · 1L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: City A.M.
Image: Daily Mirror

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The story, neutrally told

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that the government will repeal a ban on public ownership of water companies, as part of a ten-year transformation of the privatised water sector. He spoke at the Labour conference in Liverpool, in his first conference speech as Labour leader. Burnham said the privatised water industry introduced under Margaret Thatcher had failed, and that a new water bill would let the government take greater control of the sector.

He described the industry as a symbol of what has gone wrong with Britain, saying "shareholders never lose, the public never win", and said mayors would get more powers to hold water companies to account. City A.M. reports that Burnham had long called for more public control of water and energy but had not until now said whether this would include taking direct control of firms. He has previously called for Thames Water, which carries about £20bn of debt, to enter a special administration regime. According to a Teneo report cited by City A.M., that could cost taxpayers more than £4bn.

An IG analyst warned that nationalisation without clear compensation terms would be a negative for United Utilities, Severn Trent and Pennon, and could raise concern about other regulated utilities. The speech also covered other policies, including a National Care Service funded by downgrading the pensions triple lock, and a Great British Grid. A Daily Mirror opinion column describes the speech as emotional, coming two weeks after Burnham's father died, and says it took on social care, the electoral system, water companies and Brexit.

The column says Burnham told delegates that the Conservatives had sold off Britain and that the right "gave it away in the first place". It quotes him accepting that he "may pay a political price".

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
An opinion column that reads the whole speech as a personal, emotional and courageous moment. Water is one item on a list.
Emphasis
Burnham's bereavement, his Merseyside roots, the National Care Service and the standing ovation.
Leaves out or plays down
It gives no detail on the repeal of the ban, the water bill, the costs or the market reaction.
Charged language
“kitchen sink speech”“stared into the abyss”“dark forces”
For example
“It was the speech of a man who has stared into the abyss, and thought better to die trying.” — Daily Mirror
“This was a kitchen sink speech that did everything, everywhere all at once” — Daily Mirror

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
A business news report that leads with the water repeal and then gives the financial risks: Thames Water's debt, the possible taxpayer bill and analysts' warnings for utility shares.
Emphasis
Costs, compensation and investor risk.
Leaves out or plays down
It says little about the speech's emotional content or the wider political context.
Charged language
“seize greater control”“Thatcher-era ban”
For example
“his government would introduce a new water bill to allow it to seize greater control of the sector.” — City A.M.
“Analysts warned the plans could have a damaging impact on listed utility firms.” — City A.M.