Clive Jones, the MP for Wokingham, has called for an immediate ban on executive bonuses at Thames Water, after it was revealed that the company would have to pay back £56.7 million due to poor performance.
This 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.
The Environment Agency had previously revealed there were 416 sewage spills in Wokingham last year. This is the most recent data available and uses the old constituency boundaries.
Clive Jones said that the steps by the regulator announced today needed to be a “watershed” moment for Thames Water, and that it was “high time” action was taken on these polluting firms.
He said: “For too long, the Conservatives allowed water companies to ride roughshod over people here in Wokingham, pumping their filthy sewage into our waterways while the bosses took home massive bonuses.
“That must end.
“No longer should these people be personally rewarded for failing to protect our local environment, while at the same time hiking bills on people in our local area.
“Disappointingly, the 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 in Wokingham.”
