Andrew George MP demands stronger sanctions on polluting water companies 

West Cornwall MP Andrew George has called on Ministers to introduce stronger sanctions on water companies which put bonuses and dividends before serving customers or the environment. This includes taking full responsibility for the costs and consequences of failure to deliver the service they’re paid for; including compensating the NHS for those who need medical attention, sick pay, staff absences, compensation for self-employed who fall ill, and in extremis, being charged for corporate manslaughter, if illness causes death.  

“When the Conservatives privatised water, they created relatively risk-free monopolies which could predict their end of year profits when they set their water bills. They don’t pay for the consequences of their irresponsibility. Well now I believe the government should make sure they do.  

His comments were made during a Parliamentary debate on the regulation of water companies led by the Liberal Democrat in the Commons today. MPs challenged Government Ministers to take tougher action against water companies who continue to pump record quantities of sewage into rivers and seas, despite growing public protest and dismay. In 2024, there were 1,646 sewage discharges in the St Ives constituency from 51 storm overflows, for a combined total of 13,835 hours. 

“Though many of the regulations introduced by the new government are welcome and help to address the appalling mismanagement of the previous Conservative government, it’s evident there’s still more to do,” said Andrew