LABOUR warned yesterday that the public is being “ripped off” by water companies following an announcement by regulator Ofwat that firms have damaged trust.

Ofwat has outlined a number of new requirements for water companies to repair trust and put consumer interests “at the heart” of corporate decision-making, including forcing firms to link executive pay to customer service.

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said: “No wonder public trust in the water industry, which provides a basic human need, has been damaged.