Water Pollution

My Liberal Democrat parliamentary colleagues and I firmly believe in taking meaningful action to protect our rivers, seas, oceans, and lakes from the growing threat of pollution. Clean water is vital not only to our environment but also to the well-being of our communities, wildlife, and the economy. It is a resource we cannot afford to take for granted, and the current state of pollution—whether from agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, plastic waste, or industrial discharge—has reached alarming levels. We must act now to protect these vital resources for future generations.

The Liberal Democrats have always led the charge for strong environmental protections, and we remain committed to reducing water pollution. There is still much to be done. Under the previous Conservative government, environmental protections were weakened, and the urgent need to address water pollution was largely ignored.

A key focus for me, especially here in St Ives, is to stop raw sewage discharges into our rivers and seas. The health of our marine environment is critically important, not least for those whose livelihoods depend on it. Standards have fallen since I was last in Parliament 10 years ago. I have consistently campaigned to stop sewage dumping and hold the water companies fully accountable for rapidly improving environmental standards for upgrading infrastructure to prevent untreated sewage discharges.

We are, of course, also focusing on agricultural runoff and plastic waste. With regard to pollution caused by agricultural runoff, it’s obviously in the interests of both farmers and the environment to cut the use of pesticides and fertilisers, which end up polluting our waterways. At the same time, we should support sustainable farming practices which help preserve water quality while allowing farmers to thrive. On plastic waste, we have consistently called for stricter measures to reduce plastic pollution, including expanding bans on single-use plastics and improving recycling systems. It is essential that we hold big polluters to account for the damage they cause to our waterways, and I will continue to push for national efforts to tackle plastic pollution, including the excessively damaging impact of nano/micro plastics.

Transparency is key in tackling water pollution. The public must have access to clear, real-time data about water quality and pollution levels in their local rivers, seas, and lakes. We will continue to push for greater accountability from regulatory bodies such as the Environment Agency so that people are informed about the state of their local environments and can take action when necessary. We cannot rely on water companies to police themselves.

I am committed to creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable environment for all. The protection of our water resources is not just about preserving nature; it is about protecting public health, ensuring economic sustainability, and safeguarding the well-being of future generations.