Dr Neil Hudson MP hits out against toxic misinformation campaign

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, stood up in the Commons to praise the toughest Government crackdown on sewage spills in history and decry the toxic misinformation campaign muddying the waters.

Recently, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published its Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan committing the UK to unprecedented targets which will stop our Victorian sewage system from leaking. As well as strict targets to reduce spills, water companies will now face fines, be ordered to give customers refunds, and even be  prosecuted should they not comply.

Storm overflows were introduced by the Victorians as a safety valve for combined sewage systems. Now, under pressure from climate change and population growth, water companies use them far too often, threatening the environment and those who enjoy it. 

New Conservative plans also frontload action to the most urgent areas, such as Cumbria's protected landscapes and bathing waters so we will see improvements almost straight away.

 

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:

"I've been increasingly frustrated by the misinformation campaign against Conservative MPs which has been just as toxic as the unacceptable sewage discharges that our Conservative Government has committed to stamping out.

"Just today Mr Farron put out a statement to the local press in which he claimed I am 'completely on the wrong side of the argument'. If Mr Farron thinks investing £56 billion to eradicate sewage pouring into our precious waterways is the wrong side of the argument, then I think he needs to reconsider his position urgently.

"That said, I actually welcomed his statement in the Chamber today. No doubt he took inspiration from when I raised the issues of bonuses five months ago in an EFRA Committee session. Better late than never...

"Ultimately our Victorian sewage system has been overlooked by politicians for more than 100 years and I'm proud to say we Conservatives have been the ones to take action with the toughest crackdown in history. 

"I've been consistently banging the drum for the people of Penrith and The Border on the issue of sewage in the Commons, as a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, and in the many letters, tabled questions and conversations I've had with Ministers. I know constituents will look beyond the headlines to see the hard work my colleagues from the Conservative, Labour and Scottish National Parties and I have done on the EFRA Committee to make a proactive and tangible impact for our natural landscapes. I've been clear on this issue, I'm proud of my record and a bit of fake news won't stop me continuing my campaign to leave our environment in a better state than we found it." 

 

Dr Neil Hudson's consistent record on sewage discharges from combined storm overflows:

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