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Andy Burnham has taken aim at ‘profiteering’ water companies as he continues his campaign ahead of the Makerfield by-election. The Greater Manchester mayor, who is hoping to return to Parliament after voters go to the polls on June 18, on Tuesday called for stronger public control of the industry. He said North West-based United Utilities Group PLC should cancel the final dividend due to be paid to shareholders in August and redistribute the money to lower costs for consumers instead, after the company’s profits surged following an increase in bills. He said: ‘There is simply no justification for profiteering on this scale when people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. This confirms why people feel the system is rigged against them. It makes the case for essential public services coming back under public control.’ The Labour politician, who many believe will seek to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for leadership if elected, also called for regeneration schemes in the Wigan borough to be paused until the Environment Agency, United Utilities and developers agree a plan to accelerate infrastructure investment. Residents in the Makerfield constituency faced flooding in 2015 and 2025, with some still not able to return to their homes, Burnham said. He called on the government to make it mandatory for housing developers to implement the highest standards for flood resilience at project and household level in areas at risk of flooding. He said: ‘Forty years of neoliberalism in Britain has left us with essential services, which the public have no choice but to use, which work to serve private vested interests over the public interest. ‘The water industry is a classic case of one where the shareholders always win and the bill payers always lose. People are right to be angry that they are being asked to pay for bill hikes they cannot afford, only for their hard-earned cash to pour into the pockets of shareholders.’ He said excess profits were ‘unjustifiable’ and added: ‘Water companies should put these surging profits into lowering bills, improving services and protecting communities.’ Burnham, a former Cabinet minister, promised a vote for him in Makerfield would be a vote to ‘change Labour’ as he launched his campaign last month. He is one of 14 candidates standing in the election, which was triggered when Labour’s Josh Simons stood down. The vote is expected to be a race between Burnham and Reform UK’s candidate Robert Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor. United Utilities shares rose 1.1% to 1,329.00 pence each on Tuesday morning in London. By Eleanor Barlow, Press Association Press Association: News source: PA Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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