Green Peer Refuses to Pay Full Thames Water Bill to Protest Sewage Pollution

A Green party peer is refusing to pay her full Thames Water bill in protest at the supplier’s pollution record.

Writing in the Guardian, Jenny Jones – a long-time campaigner against sewage pollution and the privatised water industry – said she has stopped paying part of her bill whilst the company pollutes Britain’s rivers and coastlines.

She wrote to Thames Water to explain she was happy to pay the part of the bill related to her water supply, but not to the part for dealing with sewage. The firm replied saying it doesn’t split bills in that way, and followed up with “a threatening letter and a vastly increased bill with penalty charges,” Jones said. 

She also called for the water industry to be brought back into public ownership.

She cited a 2025 Guardian report that found serious pollution incidents by English water companies had increased by 60% the previous year, with Thames Water being the worst offender. 

“I decided that if the government wouldn’t act, I could at least do my part and not pay for this travesty,” Jones said. 

“Nothing will change until these companies go officially bankrupt and the quickest way of ensuring that happens is if people stop paying their bills. 

“A few decades ago millions of people did exactly that with the poll tax and the government backed down. (I was taken to court over that.) So why not use the same non-payment tactic to end water privatisation?”

Jones said there had also been mention of bailiffs, and she was prepared to face legal action.

“I will calmly read all the threatening letters and await the court case against me,” she said. “I have drawn a line in the sand. And I hope to win this particular battle,” she said. 

Jones’ solo protest echoes the Don’t Pay campaign in 2022, which saw more than 100,000 people sign up to stop paying their energy bills. It was described by energy firm E.ON as an “existential threat” to the sector.