ANDY BURNHAM’S decision to shelve public ownership plans for Thames Water is a “mockery of households,” campaigners said today.

The Prime Minister has paused plans to use special administration regime (SAR) powers on the debt-ridden utility company after government officials raised concerns over potential costs to taxpayers, according to The Times.

The former Greater Manchester mayor had spoken favourably of such plans during his campaign for Labour leadership, claiming the case for public ownership was “overwhelming.”

“It’s not off the table, but further work is being done on potential solutions before a decision can be taken,” a Whitehall source told the newspaper.

Public ownership campaign group We Own It called Mr Burnham’s decision to pause plans for nationalisation a “mockery of households, of our entire water system, of the special administration regime of England.”

Its director Cat Hobbs said: “Why should a handful of US creditors — whose own water is 87 per cent publicly owned — cow a British prime minister into submission?

“The idea that we can’t take back this company which has literally gone bust, been in breach of its licence for two years and has put forward several proposals for illegal sewage is a joke.

“Andy Burnham went to court to fight for bus passengers in Manchester. He must continue defending the public interest if he wants to stay popular.

“The alternative is to rubber stamp the rip-off of English households for decades to come. Because there has never been a cheaper or better time to take back Thames Water.”

SNP environment affairs spokesperson Seamus Logan MP said: “This isn’t the ‘change’ that Andy Burnham promised. The cost of living is getting even worse under his Labour government, not better.

“This U-turn comes on the eve of yet another broken promise, with energy bills expected to rise for the seventh time under the Labour government to more than £600 higher than promised.”

Mr Logan said England should have followed the example of Scotland, where water has been kept under public ownership through Scottish Water.

He said the SNP’s policies have meant “families in Scotland are saving £107 on their water bills compared to Labour-run England.”

Thames Water faces a near-£20 billion debt pile. The company warned investors last month it would run out of money by the end of 2026.