‘Privatisation has failed’ - South Shields MP calls for water companies to be brought under public control
The Member of Parliament for South Shields has called for the renationalisation of the country’s water companies.
South Shields’ MP has called on the government to bring the water companies back under public control in an effort to prevent sewage being pumped into the country’s waterways.
Emma Lewell made the comments following a protest over water pollution at Littlehaven Beach on Saturday, May 2.
The protest was organised by South Shields Surf CIC who have previously hit out at Northumbrian Water for allowing sewage to pour into the borough’s waters.
In November, Littlehaven Beach was given a ‘Poor’ inspection grade by the Environment Agency following water testing between May and September 2025.
Calls to renationalise the water industry
Ms Lewell has branded the privatisation of the water industry as a failure and explained that she is continuously lobbying the government to enact meaningful change to prevent sewage being pumped into the sea.
She said: “For over a decade now I’ve worked with Bob Latimer and others locally to try and stop sewage dumping in our waters.
“Privatisation has failed - there isn’t a single public service that was privatised that has worked for the public and you see that no where more than in the water industry.
“People are fed up of seeing the massive profits that are being made and not being put back into the service.
“As a result, our beaches, which are the jewel in the crown of South Tyneside, are being damaged.
“I have had enough of it and I’m constantly putting pressure on the government but there is more to do and that’s why in the King’s Speech there will an announcement about more legislation around the water industry.
“MPs like me are pushing very hard for a nationalisation of our water industry because that is what will stop this problem.”
‘Get your act together’
Ms Lewell also called on the country’s water companies to put their profits back into improving the services that they provide to ensure that sewage isn’t polluting waterways.
She added: “The water companies need to pack it in and put the money back into the services.
“We were told when it was privatised that all the profit would be put back into making the service better and that privatisation was the only way to do this.
“It has failed so my message to the water companies is get your act together and start putting your big profits into improving the service.
“My message elsewhere is this needs to be nationalised as a matter of urgency.”
Investigations at Littlehaven Beach
Northumbrian Water has previously stated that isn’t just water companies who contribute fluctuating water quality levels and said it is working to improve the conditions at Littlehaven Beach.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Between 2025 and 2030 we are investing £1.7bn on environmental improvements across the North East, which will help reduce the number of spills from storm overflows and help to improve our coasts and rivers.
“For Littlehaven in particular, we will be carrying out a detailed investigation alongside our partners at the South Tyneside Council and the Environment Agency to find the causes of this, and we will carry out project work as necessary under the Water Industry National Environment Programme.”