Thames Water faces row over £1m payment to finance chief

Thames Water has awarded a £1 million signing fee to its chief financial officer, Steve Buck. The payment comes as the UK's largest water utility faces significant financial scrutiny while attempting to navigate a period of instability and avoid potential government intervention.

The decision has drawn criticism from campaign groups, who have characterized the payment as inappropriate given the company's current financial challenges. Some observers have suggested that the situation warrants nationalization, with calls for political figures such as Andy Burnham to intervene in the management of the utility.