A Norfolk MP who won the chance to try to get a new law through parliament has revealed the issue he has in his sights. 

Clive Lewis wants to introduce a bill to overhaul how water is managed in the UK. 

The Labour MP for Norwich South won a random ballot to pick MPs who can present Private Members' Bills to Parliament, meaning his bill is guaranteed debate time in the House.

Mr Lewis's bill would set new water targets and objectives for water management and establish a new commission to advise how to achieve them.

That commission's remits would include exploring different models of water ownership.

Mr Lewis has previously been a vocal proponent of bringing water back under public ownership, rather than private.

He said: "This bill puts the conversation about the future management of water where it should be – in the hands of parliament and the public.

"This is a conversation that must take place in broad daylight, not behind the closed doors of boardrooms, or through opaque industry lobbying.

"Water belongs to all of us, so how it is managed is a question of economic democracy. This should not be difficult for any government to grasp.

"Water is a critical national resource. It is something on which all life and ecological health depends. It belongs to all of us.

"Water access and our water system are set to come under tremendous strain as the result of climate change."

Mr Lewis said the bill, which comes at a time of heightened interest in the quality of the country's water, would help create an "open conversation" about how the resource should be managed.

He said: "This bill does not presume a particular end point, and aims to push the public debate beyond simplistic and unhelpful narratives of privatisation vs nationalisation."

Anglian Water was ordered to pay back millions to customersAnglian Water was ordered to pay back millions to customers (Image: Anglian Water)Anglian Water was this month ordered to refund customers more than £38m for failing to meet targets.

Water industry regulator Ofwat said water firms in England and Wales must pay back £157.6m to customers for missing performance targets, which include reducing pollution, leaks and supply interruptions.

Mr Lewis's full bill will be published in the coming months.