Tory MPs face 'judgement day' over sewage as Labour attempts to hijack Commons
Tory MPs have been told they face "judgement day" as Labour attempts to hijack the Commons to force through legislation that will end the “sewage scandal”.
The party will hold a binding vote tomorrow on whether time should be made next week to debate the Water Quality Bill it has drawn up.
The legislation would impose automatic fines on companies found to be dumping waste in rivers and the sea, as well as new legally binding targets.
It would also make it a legal requirement for all sewage outlets to be monitored with penalties if this is not followed.
Labour said it would give Conservative MPs an opportunity to put an end to sewage dumping "once and for all".
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Shadow Environment Secretary Jim McMahon said: “It is clear that we have a Tory government that has run out of ideas, only regurgitating old announcements that do nothing to end sewage dumping.
Labour's Jim McMahon urged the Tories to end sewage dumping "once and for all" (Getty Images)“That is why Labour has brought forward legislation to clean up our water system.
“Today, Tory MPs have an opportunity to support Labour’s Water Quality Bill which will put an end to sewage dumping once and for all.
“Their constituents will be watching to see if they will put the best interests of our country before their party.”.
The Liberal Democrats, who are backing Labour’s Opposition Day motion, said it was a “judgement day for Conservative MPs on the sewage crisis plaguing our coastlines and rivers”.
Tim Farron, the party’s environment spokesman, said: “Conservative MPs have spent the past year blocking tough new laws on water companies. They are trying to take the British public for fools with tough talk and no action.
"Communities across the country have had enough of Conservative MPs who would rather protect water firms over their local environment."
Labour analysis of Environment Agency statistics suggested sewage was dumped every two-and-a-half minutes on average since 2016.
Rivers, lakes, seas and beaches faced a staggering 1,276 years' worth of raw sewage over just a seven-year period, according to the party's research.
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