Jeremy Corbyn’s £90billion plan to renationalise water hit as UK’s is cheaper than most, report claims
BRITISH households are paying less for water than most other countries, a report reveals.
The revelation is a fresh blow to Jeremy Corbyn’s £90billion plan to nationalise the water companies.
The figures, provided by global engineering consultancy Arup, come after Labour leader Mr Corbyn said he wanted to replace the country’s “dysfunctional water system” with publicly owned companies.
He claimed he could use some of the money paid out in dividends to shareholders to cut bills.
But a new study reveals Britain has much lower water charges than many other countries.
Experts from global engineering consultancy Arup compared the cost per 1,000 litres in major cities around the world.
They found Birmingham consumers pay nearly half the price of those in Berlin – £2.37 compared to £4.34.
Manchester’s water is 28 per cent cheaper than Melbourne – £3.42 compared with £4.38 – and Leeds is 22 per cent cheaper than Luxembourg £3.05 against £3.74.
Londoners pay less than people in almost all other European capitals, which are supplied by publicly owned utilities.
Only Rome’s heavily subsidised supply, provided by a debt-ridden government, comes cheaper.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “These figures are damning for Jeremy Corbyn and will pour cold water over his reckless renationalisation plans.
“Taking water companies into public ownership would undoubtedly mean higher water bills and billions more added to our debts.”
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has accused Britain’s private water companies of operating regional monopolies which have profited at the expense of consumers who have no choice.
He has branded it a “national scandal” and vowed that the next Labour government will call an end to privatisation of our public sector and “call time on the water companies”.
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