Our three Tory MP voted against plans to “name and shame” water companies killing animals with sewage

Otters across England and Wales have been found to have been poisoned in rivers.

This week our local Conservative MPs (Tamworth, Burton & Lichfield) voted against the amendment to the Animal Sentience Bill tabled by the Liberal Democrats which would have forced water companies to report on the number of animals killed by sewage dumps.

283 Conservative MPs voted against the plans including Christopher Pincher, Kate Griffiths and Michael Fabricant, versus 179 opposition MPs including Liberal Democrats who voted for.
The vote follows toxic substances known as "forever chemicals", being detected in otters across England and Wales.
The amendment would have led to:

Water companies being forced to produce reports on the number of animals killed by toxic and sewage waste dumped in rivers.

The Government being required to publish an annual report into the number of animals killed by poor water quality in rivers

The naming and shaming of water companies found to dump sewage in rivers which leads to animals being killed

The Liberal Democrats have demanded an end to sewage dumping in rivers to prevent wildlife being killed and the environment being irreparably damaged.

Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

"Conservative MPs should hang their heads in shame. Yet again they have let water companies off the hook whilst our precious rivers are pumped full of raw sewage.
"Enough is enough, we need to name and shame water companies which are being found to destroy precious wildlife habitat. It is scandalous that animals are swimming in filth and seeing their habitats become sewage traps.
"This is a national scandal. Time and time again Conservative MPs refuse to take tough action on water companies. When will they finally listen to the public and do the right thing before our rivers are damaged beyond repair?"