Danny Dyer petitions No 10 for water nationalisation

The petition, delivered with Labour MP Kevin McKenna, criticises privatisation and cites environmental and infrastructure failures.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:01:21 GMT

Actor Danny Dyer handed a petition to Number 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, urging the government to return the water industry to public ownership, according to Standard.

What happened

Dyer, 49, and Labour MP Kevin McKenna delivered the petition after it gathered more than 345,000 online signatures. The e‑petition, started by campaigners SOS Whitstable, claims water companies are “exploiting” an essential natural resource and failing to reinvest profits to upgrade infrastructure to modern standards. Because it has crossed the 100,000‑signature threshold, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.

What the reports add

The Standard articles note that the petition describes the water sector as “no longer fit for purpose”.
Both pieces record that Dyer had attended a protest in Kent the previous month calling for water‑company nationalisation.
Water UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs were contacted for comment; a government spokesperson said the administration will give the public more control, tighten regulation and keep bills low.

What was said

“We call on the Government to return the water industry to public ownership.”

The petition adds: “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.”

“Danny’s been great. He’s picked this up and run with it…There’s a lot of other things he’s been doing on the island and things he could have campaigned on. He’s doing it because it matters to him, and so I’m really grateful that actually he’s making such a big noise about this.” – MP Kevin McKenna, speaking to the Press Association.

“It’s really bad that we’ve got to a point in this country where we’ve got to do this, with the way that our waterways have gone and the pollution in the waterways…I think ultimately public ownership is the right thing and certainly what we have to do.” – MP Kevin McKenna, adding further comments.

“The water quality was a ‘disgrace’.” – Danny Dyer, quoted in the Standard report.

“For too long pollution, poor performance and financial instability in the water industry has left customers and communities to pay the price…This situation can’t continue – which is why this Government will give the public more control and help keep bills as low as possible.” – Government spokesperson, Standard.

How it came about

Dyer’s activism follows earlier calls for water nationalisation, such as the Greens’ demand for immediate public ownership reported by Felo News on 3 October 2026, where deputy leader Rachel Millward urged the government to take water firms into public ownership without compensation for shareholders.

It also follows his profanity‑laden outburst at a Surfers Against Sewage demonstration, which prompted Labour leader Andy Burnham to question the actor’s political knowledge, as detailed in the September 22 2026 report.

Key facts

Danny Dyer delivered a petition to Number 10 calling for water industry nationalisation. (standard.co.uk)
The petition has gathered more than 345,000 online signatures. (standard.co.uk)
Labour MP Kevin McKenna accompanied Dyer during the delivery. (standard.co.uk)
The petition alleges water companies are exploiting the resource and not reinvesting in infrastructure. (standard.co.uk)
Dyer previously attended a protest in Kent demanding water‑company nationalisation. (standard.co.uk)