New prime minister Andy Burnham faces several immediate challenges to turn around national fortunes – with the future of Thames Water a particularly key decision after he previously suggested it could be nationalised.
Those behind the firm had proposed to write off half of its debts in exchange for leniency from future pollution fines, among other factors, but the offer has been rejected previously by the government, who informed regulator Ofwat it was not good for consumers or the environment.
