Actor Danny Dyer has delivered a petition to Number 10 Downing Street calling on the Government to “return the water industry to public ownership”.
The 49-year-old, best known for his roles in EastEnders and Rivals, made the delivery alongside Labour MP Kevin McKenna on Wednesday.
Petition passes 345,000 signatures
The petition, which has gathered more than 345,000 signatures online, criticises the privatisation of the water industry and claims it is “no longer fit for purpose”.
The e-petition argues that water companies are “exploiting” an “essential natural resource” and failing to reinvest profits to upgrade infrastructure to “modern standards”.
The petition description reads: “We call on the Government to return the water industry to public ownership.
“This crisis has spiralled out of control, causing severe environmental damage, harming tourism and coastal economies and putting public health at risk.
“Enough is enough.”
Campaigners and parliamentary debate
Started by campaigners SOS Whitstable, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament because it has crossed the 100,000-signature threshold.
Dyer last month attended a protest in Kent calling for water companies to be nationalised.
Dyer has been running a caravan park on the Isle of Sheppey alongside his daughter, reality TV star Dani Dyer, as part of a Sky series called The Dyers’ Caravan Park. He previously told the BBC the quality of water was a “disgrace” and that “sometimes when you look out to the sea, you can smell the twang in the air”.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has been contacted for comment.
