CAMPAIGNERS demanded the government take back control of debt-ridden Thames Water after its “indefensible” decision to give a £1 million golden handshake to its finance chief amid likely drought conditions in large parts of the country. Britain’s largest water company gave Steve Buck the huge sign-on fee in July as it continues to struggle with a debt pile of around £20 billion, as well as public outcry over pollution and mismanagement of the utility. Mr Buck joined Britain’s largest water company in April 2025, and received the seven-figure payment last month, according to a letter from the Thames Water chairman to MPs on the environment, food and rural affairs committee. “Yet there’s still £1m for a finance chief’s signing-on payment when over a quarter of Thames Water customer bills go to servicing debt. This past year, Thames Water boss Chris Weston has seen his pay increase by 14 per cent, to £1.63m.