Analysis of official Labor figures shows that since 2016, when the Tory leadership hopeful was responsible for the discharge of raw sewage more than doubled from 14.7 per overflow in 2016 to 29.3 in 2021. This coincided with £80m of sewage screens being cut as part of a £235m Tory ax to the Environment Agency (EA) budget, which it called “efficiency savings”. As Environment Secretary, Ms Truss justified the cuts by saying “there are ways we can make savings as a department” citing better use of technology and interagency working. However, shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon said: “Under the Tories, the country is facing a water crisis. The water infrastructure is at bursting point, with billions of liters of water being wasted every day and raw sewage being poured into the water. “The fact that Liz Truss was the one to cut EA so severely not only demonstrates a lack of foresight but also a lack of attention to detail in recognizing the need to adapt to the severe flooding that had just occurred on her watch. “Labour will tackle the challenges to our water system by strengthening the law and making sure water company bosses are held legally and financially accountable for their negligence.” A senior Environment Agency adviser told the Guardian about the cuts: “They have plummeted to the point where it was impossible for the Environment Agency to know what was going on. “They had no control or monitoring capability that was meaningful. “They handed over monitoring control to water companies, who ended up marking their own work. They’re taking their own samples and assessing whether they’re in compliance.” Read more: UK’s worst polluters accused of greenwashing and urged to do more to protect environment Dairy giant fined record £1.5m for dumping illegal levels of sewage into river Labour’s analysis comes as dozens of pollution warnings were issued for beaches and swimming spots in England and Wales after heavy rain overwhelmed the sewer system. On Monday, No 10 said it was the duty of companies to put customers before shareholders, with a spokeswoman saying: “We have been clear that the failure of water companies to adequately reduce sewage discharges is completely unacceptable. “They have a duty to put their clients before shareholders and we would expect them to take urgent action on this matter or face fines.”
