At the February meeting of Mebyon Kernow’s National Executive Committee, MK members and councillors voted unanimously to re-affirm their commitment to the public ownership of the water industry.

Speaking at the meeting, public services spokesman, Cllr Loic Rich stated it was important that MK reiterated its call for an end to the monopoly of water supply by a private company.

He said: “There is no rational reason for any private company to be given a private monopoly to hold ordinary people to ransom in the guise of selling water. Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall is the only party committed to the scrapping of South West Water and its replacement with a publicly-owned and publicly-accountable Cornish Water Company”

Cllr Rich, who serves on Truro City Council and is also Mebyon Kernow’s parliamentary candidate for Truro and Falmouth, also hit out at South West Water for recently threatening to cut jobs after its attempts to increase charges over the next five years were scuppered by the regulators and the Government.

He added:

“South West Water’s main objective is to make money for its shareholders. They have made good profits – millions and millions of pounds this year. Threatening to lay off loyal and committed front line staff to keep shareholders happy is a cynical move which highlights their inappropriate priorities.”