Thames Water’s £1m payout to finance chief is ‘unacceptable’, says government department

Utility firm’s payment criticised by Defra and campaign groups, with some urging Andy Burnham to nationalise it

Thames Water has paid its finance chief a £1m signing fee despite teetering on the brink of a government-handled administration – a decision the environment department labelled “unacceptable”.

The utility company revealed that it made the payment last month, in a letter sent last week by Adrian Montague, its chair, to MPs on the environment, food and rural affairs select committee.