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Thames Water customers have been assured that “absolutely nothing” will happen to their bills or supply, as the heavily indebted firm scrambles to raise cash from investors to prevent collapse.

Ministers have continued efforts to reassure the public as Britain’s biggest water company struggles under a £14bn debt pile, with the government said to be laying the groundwork for the firm’s emergency nationalisation.

Health minister Neil O’Brien told Sky News: “They are still in the process of finding further resources from their own shareholders and that’s the first place they should look to, obviously.

“Of course the government does have contingency plans if this does become a problem.”

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Mr O’Brien refused to say if the utility firm could be taken into public ownership as a last resort, insisting he was “not able” to reveal what the contingency plans are.

But in a message to Thames Water customers he said that whatever the outcome: “Absolutely nothing is going to happen in terms of either their bills or their access to water, we have contingency plans – like we do in all of these network utilities – to manage any difficult situations.”

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Several reports on Thursday suggested concerns about Thames Water’s finances had now broadened to other firms in the industry.

Industry regulator Ofwat responded: “Over the last day or so, there has been a lot of commentary about financial resilience in the water sector with considerable focus on Thames Water in particular.”

It added: “Overall, the sector is continuing to attract international capital and is especially attractive to long term investors such as pension funds. Indeed, there has been an additional equity injection of around £2bn since 2020, with companies acting to strengthen their financial position.

“Ofwat will continue to keep companies’ financial resilience under close scrutiny and work with companies to ensure they take action to ensure that they have the financial backing to deliver for customers and the environment.”

On Wednesday, Thames Water said it was working “constructively” with shareholders to secure extra cash.

The company, which serves 15 million households, said that it needs “further equity funding” on top of the £500m it raised just three months ago.

The statement came after Sky News revealed the government is discussing placing Thames Water into a special administration regime (SAR) that would effectively take the company into temporary public ownership if it collapses.

Such an insolvency process is rare and was used when the energy supplier Bulb collapsed in 2021, sparking concerns that it could cost taxpayers billions of pounds.

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Rebecca Pow, the water minister, did not say how much a government bailout could cost when pressed on the matter by Labour in the Commons.

She insisted the water sector as a whole is “financially resilient” and the government is confident that Ofwat is “working closely with any company that would be facing financial stress”.

Thames Water

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Ministers weigh contingency plan for collapse of Thames Water
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Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, admitted she is “very concerned” by the situation.

Thames Water – owned by a consortium of pension funds and sovereign wealth funds – has come under pressure in recent years over its poor performance in tackling leaks and sewage contamination, while facing criticism for handing out big rewards to top bosses and shareholders.

On Tuesday, Thames Water chief executive Sarah Bentley stepped down with immediate effect amid mounting worries over the financial stability of the company and criticism of her £1.6m pay packet despite the company’s environmental performance.

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Heathrow puts Jansen on runway as next chairman

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Heathrow puts Jansen on runway as next chairman

The former BT Group chief Philip Jansen is being lined up as the next chairman of Heathrow Airport as Britain’s biggest aviation hub prepares to deliver an expansion costing close to £50bn.

Sky News has learnt that Mr Jansen, who chairs the FTSE-100 marketing services group WPP, is in advanced talks with Heathrow’s board and shareholders about taking on the role.

If the discussions reach a successful conclusion, sources said an announcement could come within weeks.

Mr Jansen is said to have emerged as the frontrunner from a shortlist of candidates compiled by headhunters at Russell Reynolds Associates.

His experience as the boss of BT, a regulated utility, is said to have been key to his selection as the preferred candidate.

Mr Jansen has also run companies including MyTravel and Worldpay.

The appointment of a successor to Lord Deighton, who has held the post for nine years, comes at a critical time for Heathrow.

In August, the airport submitted a revised expansion plan consisting of a third runway costing £21bn, £12bn for a new terminal and stand capacity, and £15bn to modernise the current airport through the expansion of Terminal 2.

The existing Terminal 3 would ultimately be closed.

Read more: Full details of Heathrow’s plans for a third runway revealed

Heathrow handled a record 83.9 million passengers in 2024 and is adamant that a third runway is essential to the growth of Britain’s economy, given the volume of exports which pass through the site.

“It has never been more important or urgent to expand Heathrow,” the airport’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, said in August.

“We are effectively operating at capacity to the detriment of trade and connectivity.

“With a green light from government and the correct policy support underpinned by a fit for purpose regulatory model, we are ready to mobilise and start investing this year in our supply chain across the country.

“We are uniquely placed to do this for the country; it is time to clear the way for take-off.”

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The expansion remains opposed by many airlines alarmed by the prospective increase in charges to use the airport, as well

It has, however, been backed by the government, with Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, saying that a third runway “would unlock further growth, boost investment, increase exports, and make the UK more open and more connected as part of our Plan for Change”.

Heathrow’s next chairman will lead a board dominated by representatives of the airport’s principal shareholders.

Mr Woldbye apologised in May for being asleep during the power outage in March which forced Heathrow’s temporary closure.

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‘Serious questions’ after Heathrow fire

The airport said it would implement the recommendations of a review conducted by former transport secretary Ruth Kelly.

Heathrow’s search for a new chairman comes months after the most significant changes to its ownership structure in years.

Ardian, a French investment group, now owns 32.6% of the company following a series of transactions over the last 12 months.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has also become an investor.

Heathrow has never formally announced Lord Deighton’s intention to step down, other than a disclosure in its annual report in which he wrote:

“In light of the recent changes to the HAHL [Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited] board…the nominations committee…has asked me to extend my appointment for a limited period to help ensure a smooth transition whilst new non-executive shareholder directors become familiar with the business and a new chair is appointed.

“I have therefore agreed to extend my role as chair for a limited period to ensure continuity and stability on the HAHL Board during this period of transition.”

A Heathrow spokesperson declined to comment, while Mr Jansen could not be reached for comment.

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Major milestone in Post Office scandal as first Capture conviction referred to Court of Appeal

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Major milestone in Post Office scandal as first Capture conviction referred to Court of Appeal

The first Post Office Capture conviction has now been formally referred to the Court of Appeal, marking a major milestone in the IT scandal.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) made the decision to refer the case of sub-postmistress Patricia Owen back in July.

Mrs Owen was convicted of theft by a jury in 1998, based on evidence from the faulty IT software Capture.

She was given a suspended prison sentence and fought to clear her name afterwards – but died in 2003.

Capture software was used in 2,500 branches between 1992 and 1999.

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The first Capture conviction was sent for appeal in July

It is the first time a conviction based on Capture – the predecessor to the Horizon system at the centre of the wider Post Office scandal – has reached the Court of Appeal.

It comes after Sky News revealed that a damning report into Capture, which could help overturn convictions, had been unearthed after nearly 30 years.

An investigation found the Post Office knew about the report at the time and continued to prosecute sub-postmasters based on Capture evidence.

Mrs Owen’s family submitted an application to the CCRC in January 2024 – her case has now been referred on the grounds that her prosecution was an “abuse of process”.

A ‘touchstone case’ for victims

Lawyers have said that if Mrs Owen is exonerated posthumously in the Court of Appeal, it may “speed up” the handling of others.

The CCRC is also continuing to investigate more than 30 other “pre-Horizon” convictions.

CCRC chair, Dame Vera Baird, also told Sky News in the summer it could be a “touchstone case” for other victims.

Juliet Shardlow, Mrs Owen’s daughter, has been fighting to clear her mother’s name for years.

She told Sky News the family were “so pleased” her case had finally been referred.

“This has been a very long journey for us as a family and we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

“It’s just sad that mum isn’t here to see it.

“The good news is that once mum’s case is heard in the High Court, it will pave the way for all the other Capture victims.”

The Post Office has previously said it is “determined that past wrongs are put right and continue to support the government’s work in this area as well as fully co-operate with the Criminal Cases Review Commission”.

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UK suffers blow in bid to become minerals superpower – as it’s snubbed by its own leading firm

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UK suffers blow in bid to become minerals superpower - as it's snubbed by its own leading firm

Britain’s hopes of becoming a critical minerals superpower have been dealt a severe blow after one of its leading companies abandoned its plans to build a rare earths refinery near Hull.

Pensana had pledged to build a £250m refinery on the banks of the Humber, to process rare earths that would have then been used to make magnets for electric cars and wind turbines.

The plant promised to create 126 jobs and was due to receive millions of pounds of government funding.

However, Sky News has learnt that Pensana has decided to scrap the Hull plant and will instead move its refining operations to the US.

Pensana’s chairman, Paul Atherley, said the company had taken the decision after the Trump administration committed to buying rare earths from an American mine, Mountain Pass, at a guaranteed price – something no government in Europe had done.

“That’s repriced the market – and Washington is looking to do more of these deals, moving at an absolute rate of knots,” he said.

“Europe and the UK have been talking about critical minerals for ages. But when the Americans do it, they go big and hard, and make it happen. We don’t; we mostly just talk about it.”

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Can Trump win the mineral war?

The decision comes at a crucial juncture in critical minerals and geopolitics. China produces roughly 90% of all finished rare earth metals – exotic elements essential for the manufacture of many technology, energy and military products.

Last week, Beijing imposed restrictions on the exports of rare earths, prompting Donald Trump to threaten further 100% tariffs on China.

Pensana had been seen as Britain’s answer to the periodic panics about the availability of rare earths. The site at Saltend Chemicals Park was chosen by the government to launch its critical minerals strategy in 2022.

Visiting for the official groundbreaking, the then business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “This incredible facility will be the only one of its kind in Europe and will help secure the resilience of Britain’s supplies into the future.”

He pledged a government grant to support the scheme. That grant was never received because Pensana never built its plant.

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Paul Atherley and Kwasi Kwarteng at a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant in July 2022. Pic: Pensana
Image:
Paul Atherley and Kwasi Kwarteng at a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant in July 2022. Pic: Pensana

Mr Atherley said he is optimistic about another project he’s involved with, to bring lithium refining to Teesside through another company, Tees Valley Lithium.

But, he said, rare earth processing is far more complex, energy-intensive and expensive, making it unviable in the UK, for the time being.

The decision is a further blow for Britain’s chemicals industry, which has faced a series of closures in recent months, including that of Vivergo, a biofuels refiner based in the same chemicals park where Pensana planned to locate its refinery.

Producers warn that Britain’s record energy costs – higher than most other leading economies – are stifling its economy and triggering an outflow of businesses.

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