英国工党议员和地方市长向首相提出一项改革方案，建议将陷入困境的水务公司转变为由当地运营的非营利性合作社，作为国有化之外的替代路线[1]。该提议旨在实现公共控制，同时避免增加政府债务负担[1]。
曼彻斯特市长安迪·伯纳姆对国有化水务公司可能造成的债务增长表示担忧[1]。根据这一提案，失败的水务公司将接受"救助"机制，由股东和债权人承担失败成本，而非由纳税人埋单[1]。改革还包括一套加强的监管措施：禁止向股东派息、限制高管薪酬并加强行业监控[1]。
议员们强调了这一变革的紧迫性。海伦娜·多利摩尔议员表示要"结束水务行业的掠夺时代"[1]，而奥利弗·科帕德议员指出"水是基本公用事业，根本不应该外包给私人部门"[1]。普拉弗·纳贡德进一步解释，"互助化提供了不同的路线……在不让纳税人为几十年失败买单的情况下提供公共控制和长期投资"[1]。
该提议包括对财务濒临崩溃的泰晤士水务公司进行试点，该公司目前正与政府谈判可能的救助方案[1]。
Labour politicians and local mayors have put forward a plan to transform struggling water companies into non-profit cooperatives as an alternative to full nationalization.[1] The proposal aims to maintain public control while avoiding increased government debt, with Thames Water—facing severe financial difficulties—identified as a potential pilot site.[1]
Under the proposed framework, failing water companies would be converted into locally-run not-for-profit entities subject to strengthened regulatory oversight.[1] The restructuring would include a "rescue" mechanism that places the cost of failure on shareholders and creditors rather than taxpayers, alongside measures such as dividend bans, caps on executive pay, and enhanced monitoring.[1] Andy Burnham has expressed concern that nationalizing water companies would add to government debt.[1] Praful Nargund characterized the cooperative model as offering "a different route...providing public ownership and long-term investment without saddling taxpayers with the bill for decades of failure."[1]
Several MPs have voiced strong support for the initiative. Helena Dollimore stated the goal to "end the era of predatory practice in the water industry,"[1] while Oliver Coppard argued that "water is a fundamental utility and should never have been outsourced to the private sector in the first place."[1] Thames Water is currently negotiating with the government over possible rescue options as its financial condition deteriorates.[1]