Dear Editor
Labour more of a stumble than a step on Water Company regulation
On the same day that United Utilities were found to have illegally dumped 10 million litres of raw sewage into Lake Windermere, and South West Water were forced to admit there was a problem with the parasite cryptosporidium in our water supply in Devon, the Labour Party decided nothing needs to be done about the water companies.
On Wednesday 15th Liberal Democrats proposed in Parliament to make it a criminal offence if water company Executives failed to do enough to halt sewage spills. No one is really surprised that the Conservatives, whose moto seems to be ‘profit at any environmental cost’, opposed such a move, but it was a shock that Labour decided nothing needed to be done.
In the week Mr. Starmer launched his ‘six steps’ it was notable that the climate crisis didn’t receive a mention. Nor did any of his ‘six steps’ offer a plan to sort out the failing water companies.
Perhaps I should not be surprised given that previously Labour were happy to allow the water regulator to prioritise water companies’ profits over achieving environmental standards.
I am left asking again, what is the point of replacing, in government, a failed and divisive Conservative Party with a Labour Party that lacks the ambition to tackle some of the major challenges of our time? People throughout the country are crying out for change but all Labour seem to offer is more of the same.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Wooding
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate
Central Devon
Last Wednesday (24th April) the Labour Party supported the Conservative Government in voting through controversial measures that have weakened the water regulator’s (OFWAT) ability to enforce action to clean up our rivers and beaches.
