Public Health Must Come First in Tackling the Water Crisis

Today I met with Julie Maughan in Parliament to hear about the tragic death of her daughter Heather, whose story featured in Channel 4’s Dirty Business programme.

Julie is an incredible campaigner, and I was grateful for the opportunity to hear more about Heather and about Julie’s determination to ensure lessons are learned from what happened.

Our conversation was a powerful reminder that behind all the debates about sewage, pollution, regulation and the future of our water companies are real people and, sometimes, devastating consequences.

Following our meeting, I raised Heather’s case in the House of Commons and asked the Leader of the House to agree that, as we tackle the terrible state of our water system, public health must be our top priority.

I was pleased that he agreed, describing the situation we have inherited as a “national disgrace” and reaffirming that water is a top priority for the Government.

I have consistently called for stronger action to protect our rivers and waterways. I have also helped to re-establish the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Chalk Streams, which I hope can play an important role in developing practical solutions to water pollution and protecting these precious habitats. Clean water is not simply an environmental issue; it is a public health issue. As we reform our water system and hold water companies to account, protecting the health and safety of the public must come first.

You can watch my exchange in the House of Commons here: