The Lib Dem leader said the public are 'alarmed' about the damage being done to UK rivers and seas. Get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters Get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters The Conservatives have “failed” on water pollution issues and let big companies “off the hook”, Sir Ed Davey has said, as he announced the Liberal Democrats ’ plans for tackling sewage and regulation of the water industry. Speaking on Saturday as he hit the campaign trail in Chichester, West Sussex, the party leader said the public were “alarmed” about the damage being done to rivers and seas in the UK and that it was an environmental, public health and economic issue.
In the run-up to the General Election , the Lib Dems have unveiled plans to abolish Ofwat and introduce a new water regulator to tackle the sewage crisis and claimed that party analysis shows water company bosses have pocketed some £54million in bonuses since 2019. According to the Environment Agency, sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas more than doubled in 2023 with 3.6 million hours of spills last year – equal to about 400 years – compared with 1.
75 million hours in 2022. Sir Ed smiled as he donned a buoyancy aid for a short boat trip around the Birdham Pool Marina to highlight the area’s natural beauty with Lib Dem Chichester candidate Jess Brown-Fu.