Danny Chambers MP: Ban bonuses for polluting bosses

Southern Water have been issued a record fine of nearly £40million for poor performance. Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester, Danny Chambers has called for an immediate ban on executive bonuses at Southern Water for their failure to tackle sewage in our rivers.

It comes as the new government’s Water Bill is set to be debated in Parliament. The Liberal Democrats have said the bill is only a “half-measure” and will table an amendment that would enforce an immediate ban on water company bosses’ bonuses.

Danny Chambers, Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester, responded:

“People in Hampshire are rightly outraged with Southern Water pumping tonnes of filthy sewage into rivers and seas. And all the while, it is the people that have had to pick up the bill, whilst water company bosses are lining their pockets. It’s high time that companies are held accountable and pay for their own mistakes.”

Despite this record fine of almost £40million, any bill reduction will be dwarfed by the expected long-term increase of £94 per household over the next five years.

“For too long the Conservatives allowed water companies to ride roughshod over people here in Winchester and the Meon Valley, pumping their filthy sewage into our waterways all the while the bosses took home massive bonuses.

“That must end. Bosses should not be personally rewarded for failing to protect our local environment all whilst hiking bills on people in our area.

“Disappointingly, the new government’s bill is only a half-measure and nowhere near tough enough on these polluting firms.

“That is why I am proud to support the Liberal Democrats amendment to the bill, which would ban water company bosses' bonuses until leaks are fixed and sewage spills end. Only then will we start to get a fair deal for people here in Winchester and across Hampshire.”

Danny Chambers spoke yesterday (8th October ‘24) during a debate on chalk streams joining colleagues in calling for the government to enhance protections for these precious waterways.