United Utilities slammed as execs rake in £4,295,000 in pay & perks

United Utilities slammed as execs rake in £4,295,000 in pay & perks

• Liverpool Lib Dem Leader Cllr Carl Cashman calls on water firm to crack down on excessive pay
• Lib Dem is “shocked” at no mention of sewage crisis in King’s Speech
• Base pay and pension payouts for executives in England & Wales water industries rise to new high of £10 million

Local Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Carl Cashman has slammed “eye-watering payouts” as the party reveals United Utilities paid each of their executives £4,295,000 in pay and perks last year. 

New analysis of Company House records has revealed the country’s water industry paid out a staggering £10 million in executive salaries last year, the highest on record. 

United Utilities has rewarded their three executives with a staggering £1.6 million in base pay, and then over £2.6 million in bonuses and pensions. This is despite the firm pumping raw sewage into the local area, including the Mersey.

Since 2020, executives at the water firm have paid themselves £13,108,000 in pay and perks. 

The local Liberal Democrats have called for a ban on all CEO bonuses within the water industry, as well as the firms to be reformed as “public public companies”. The reforms would put an end to profit before the environment and ensure their boards including environmental experts. 

At September's full council meeting, Rebecca Turner, Lib Dem Councillor for Waterfront South, gave her maiden speech on sewage dumping in the Mersey seconding a motion calling for United Utilities to clean up their act and stop dumping in the River Mersey. 

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Carl Cashman said: 

“Our local waterways are being pumped full of raw disgusting sewage, all whilst the water firm hand themselves insulting pay-outs. The whole thing stinks. These salaries and perks have reached eye-watering levels, yet Conservative Ministers refuse to act. 

“I was shocked that there was literally no mention of sewage in the King’s Speech.

“It is time to rip up United Utilities so it no longer puts profit before the environment. The firm is clearly not working how it should and is not listening to local concerns on sewage discharges. 

“This country’s water industry has become a gravy train where sewage and money flows freely. This is a scandal and happening on this government’s watch. 

“When will Conservative Ministers finally get tough on these polluting and profiteering firms? 

“These bonuses and perks need to be banned as long as the sewage scandal continues. Bonuses should be a reward for success, not committing environmental crimes.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Full analysis of Company House records dating back to 2019/2020