Lib Dem MP to take Thames Water to the Supreme Court

EMBARGO: 22.30 17th June 2025

Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard will be appealing to the Supreme Court, and asking them to hear his case against the Thames Water (TW) restructuring plan.

This follows Charlie’s case earlier in the year which was heard in the High Court. Charlie is arguing that the public and customer interests should be taken into account for this restructuring plan given Thames Water provides essential public services and has a monopoly over customers, and that the Court should not leave it up to the Secretary of State or Ofwat to decide whether there are any public interest objections.

The Liberal Democrats have long called for an overhaul of the water industry, arguing that Thames Water should be transformed into a public benefit company after being put into Special Administration, and for Ofwat to be replaced with a new regulator to hold water companies accountable.

In the Commons tomorrow (18th June), Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Lisa Smart will be pushing an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to a vote that water company executives should be convicted if they pollute British waterways. This would close the current loophole that means water bosses only face convictions if they cover up illegal sewage spills.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP for Witney Charlie Maynard MP said:

"For too long Thames Water has got away scot free, polluting waterways, underinvesting in infrastructure whilst customers' bills rocket. This must end.

"The money from our bills should be used to repair water infrastructure, improve customer service, and clean up our rivers, not spent on spiralling interest repayments.

“That's why I am continuing to fight for Thames Water’s 16 million customers, and taking my case to the Supreme Court. Customers must have a voice when these companies are being restructured, rather than just being stuck with the bill.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Charlie is available for interviews tomorrow, if that’s of interest please get in touch with press@libdems.org.uk

The amendment to the Crime and Punishment Bill can be found below:

“Senior manager liability for failure to meet pollution performance commitment

levels

(1) A person (“P”) commits an offence where—

(a) P is a senior manager of a water or water and sewerage company (“C”),

(b) C commits an offence under section [Offence of failing to meet pollution performance commitment levels], and

(c) P has failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent that offence being committed by C.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

“senior manager” means an individual who plays a significant role in—

(a) the making of decisions about how C’s relevant activities are to be managed or organised, or

(b) the actual managing or organising of C’s relevant activities;

“water or water and sewerage company” has the meaning given in section

[Offence of failing to meet pollution performance commitment levels].

(3) Where P is charged with an offence under this section, it is a defence for P to show that P was a senior manager of C for such a short time during the relevant period that P could not reasonably have been expected to take steps to prevent that offence being committed by C.

(4) Where P is guilty of an offence under this section, P is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

Members Explanatory Statement

This new clause creates senior manager liability for failure to meet pollution performance commitment levels.