Our guiding principle in choosing campaigns is whether they help make a Good Society possible; one where equality, sustainability and democracy are not mere aspirations, but a living reality.

As an organisation, we explore the ideas gap between what our country needs and the existing offer of formal politics.

We strive to close the gap in our campaigns, identifying the catalyst issues that could become the building blocks of a New Settlement.

That starts with the basics, and it doesn’t get much more basic than our need for water.

We all know our water system was broken when it was privatised. Passing an essential of life that is a natural monopoly into private and profit maximising hands was always going to lead to disaster. Yet there is a solution that unites our desire for an economy that works for everyone, handing genuine power back to communities through democratic reforms, and the need for real sustainability – public ownership.

That’s why we’ve been pushing back against the latest unprecedented hike in bill and against the bailout of Thames Water because it sets a dangerous precedent that negligence carries no consequence. Now, we’re looking to galvanise civil society, councils, party members, and our members to rally behind public ownership of water. Longtime Compass ally, MP Clive Lewis, won the opportunity to introduce a Private Members Bill.

His Water Bill is the starting point for a national and democratic conversation about water, and how this integral part of our commons is managed in the 21st century, with all the democratic, climate and ecological challenges that lie ahead.

Learn more about our campaign here, and to join a campaign briefing with the Compass team and Clive, and get involved, click here.