Over 100 MPs call for Thames Water to go into special administration

One hundred and 12 members of parliament have signed an open letter to the environment secretary and Ofwat, the water services regulation authority, calling for Thames Water to be placed into special administration without delay.

Since June 2025, Thames Water creditors, a group of US hedge funds, has been negotiating with Ofwat to formally take over the utility.

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Calum Miller MP (Image: Office of Calum Miller MP)

The proposed deal includes waiving fines for the water company, suspend pollution and performance targets, and raise bills for households beyond the level currently set by Ofwat.

Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, Olly Glover, MP for Didcot and Wantage, Freddie Van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame, Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, and Charlie Maynard, MP for Witney all signed the list.

In total 53 Liberal Democrats signed the list, 46 Labour MPs, six independents, five Green party MPs, one from Plaid Cymru and one from the Conservative party.

Freddie Van Mierlo (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council.)

The letter highlights the dangerous possibilities of the company setting its own rules would create a dangerous precedent for all of England’s privatised water companies.

Thames Water was responsible for a third of the worst pollution incidents in 2025.

The CEO of the company, Chris Weston, recently drew controversy for saying that some of the firm’s targets were beyond what they could achieve.

The comments came after he gave himself a 14 per cent pay rise to £1.163 million in the year to March, while other directors received bonuses totalling £4.1 million