Foord condemns Jupp for voting to weaken water regulator

• New law results in the weakening of Ofwat enforcement powers against water companies
• Richard Foord MP opposes move, as Simon Jupp ignores environmental groups and backs controversial changes to Ofwat’s powers
• Liberal Democrats say vote will leave water industry regulator watching companies “with a blind eye”

Conservative MPs, including East Devon MP Simon Jupp, voted in favour of limiting the water services regulator’s powers - and hampering their ability to take enforcement action against polluting water companies.

Yesterday, MPs voted on the Government's new proposals to ensure any regulator imposing a fine or action on a company, must take account of the impact on economic growth.

This new vote in Parliament for a so-called “Growth Duty” could allow water companies to escape fines for sewage dumping.

Environmental groups including the Wildlife and Countryside Link and Surfers Against Sewage warned the changes will diminish the regulator, with the Wildlife and Countryside Link CEO warning they could lead to weaker enforcement and promote deregulation of the UK’s environmental laws.

Conservative MPs voted to downgrade Ofwat’s enforcement powers, despite Liberal Democrat opposition in the House of Commons.

Richard Foord, the Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton, has called Mr Jupp’s vote ‘shameless’ and said this is another example of the ‘simple choice’ for voters at the General Election.

Richard Foord MP said:

“It was awful to see Conservative MPs shamelessly vote to help water firms prioritise economic over environmental concerns. Ofwat will now be scrutinising South West Water with a “blind eye”.

“People across Devon are rightly angry at the levels of raw sewage being dumped into our waterways. They tell me that they want MPs to walk the walk, and back tough action on these polluting firms using their votes in Parliament. 

“Yet again, East Devon’s Conservative MP chose to ignore this and put his party first. This Conservative government continues to let water firms rake in massive profits and reward themselves with huge bonuses and shareholder payouts.

“East Devon deserves better than a Conservative MP who actively votes to ditch important regulations on water firms. This shows the simple choice people in our area face at the next election – an MP willing to care for our environment, or one who in his actions shows he does not.”