Steve Reed MP responds to the government’s backtrack on self-monitoring of sewage dumping

Steve Reed MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, responding to the government’s backtrack on self-monitoring of sewage dumping:

“This Conservative government is too weak to stand up to water companies.

“Just a few weeks ago, they promised to end self-monitoring which allows water companies to cover up what’s really going on. Now they have u-turned on that promise leaving stinking, toxic sewage to destroy our beautiful countryside.

“Labour will put failing water companies under special measures to force them to clean up their toxic mess. We will end self-monitoring, immediately give the water regulator power to ban bonuses and make water bosses who continue to oversee law-breaking face criminal charges.”

Ends.

Notes

• Just a few weeks ago, the Environment Secretary told the water industry that the “era of self-monitoring is over”. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/victory-times-water-campaign-sewage-monitors-clean-it-up-k65bjnrsz
• Under the government’s announcement, water companies will still be operating the vast majority of the monitors.
• The government this month announced it has merely launched a consultation to ban bonuses for law-breaking executives. Labour will end the dither and delay and give the water regulator power to ban bonuses for polluting water bosses.