Water Companies: Blocked Stronger Sewage Rules

314 Labour MPs voted against New Clause 19 to the Water Bill, blocking stronger accountability for water companies dumping sewage in rivers.

Labour campaigned on cleaning up waterways and holding water companies to account. When tougher measures were proposed, every Labour MP voted against. They said their bill was "sufficient" despite record sewage dumps.

Water companies continued dumping raw sewage with inadequate penalties.