Danny Dyer Leads Thames Poo-Float Protest, Delivers Water Nationalisation Petition to Downing Street
On 14 October 2026, actor Danny Dyer navigated a boat along the River Thames, transporting a massive sculpture of feces to Downing Street as part of a campaign for the nationalisation of the UK water sector. Accompanied by MP Kevin McKenna from Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Dyer delivered a petition initiated by SOS Whitstable, which has garnered nearly 350,000 signatures. Dyer, who runs a caravan park on the Isle of Sheppey, had previously taken part in a sewage protest in September. McKenna commended Dyer for his enthusiasm and the public's backing for ceasing sewage discharges. Although Prime Minister Andy Burnham supports increased public oversight, nationalisation is met with resistance. Meanwhile, Water UK and Southern Water are striving to minimize sewage discharges, with Defra rating Leysdown's bathing water as good.
Key facts
- Danny Dyer floated a giant poo sculpture down the River Thames on a boat before delivering a petition to Downing Street on 14 October 2026.
- The petition calls for water companies to be nationalised and has nearly 350,000 signatures, started by campaigners SOS Whitstable.
- Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna joined Dyer on the Thames and at Downing Street.
- Dyer runs a caravan park on the Isle of Sheppey with his daughter Dani Dyer and joined a sewage protest in Leysdown in September.
- Singer Becky Hill and Surfers Against Sewage took part in the September protest alongside Dyer and his daughter.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he wants "greater public control" of water and energy, but nationalisation suggestions have drawn pushback, including from Thames Water lenders.
- Southern Water cited a record £8.9bn investment programme and a cut in pollution incidents of almost a third between 2023 and 2025.
- Defra's Bathing Water Quality site rates Leysdown as good, based on samples taken from 2022 to 2025, with no pollution incidents reported there.
Entities
Artists
- Danny Dyer
- Dani Dyer
- Becky Hill
- Kevin McKenna
- Andy Burnham
Institutions
- SOS Whitstable
- Surfers Against Sewage
- Water UK
- Southern Water
- Thames Water
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- BBC
- BBC Kent
- BBC Radio Kent
- Strictly Come Dancing
Locations
- River Thames
- Downing Street
- Isle of Sheppey
- Leysdown
- Sittingbourne
- Sheppey
- United Kingdom
- London