Raw sewage ruckus gathering momentum - here’s how Bristol MPs voted

With COP26 around the corner, the environment is at the forefront of many conversations happening in parliament and around the world.

Those who have spent a lifetime defending and fighting for the environment were dealt a bitter blow last week when parliament voted against key amendments being enacted in the Environment Bill.

The amendments would have enforced policies that made water companies stop pumping raw sewage into our rivers and the ocean.

While it is already illegal for Water Companies to pump raw sewage into the water, over 400,000 sewage incidents across the country occurred within a year. Therefore many are calling for more effective legislation to be put in place.

Here is a list of Bristol MPs and how they voted:

Kerry Mcarthy, Labour (Bristol East) - Voted for.

Darren Jones, Labour (Bristol North West) - Voted for.

Karin Smyth, Labour (Bristol South) - No voting recorded

Thangam Debbonaire, Labour ( Bristol West) - Voted for

Jack Lopresti, Conservative (Filton & Bradley Stoke) - Voted against the amendments

The issues concerning the amendments have gained a huge following, with many people already holding their local MPs accountable and asking why they would vote against the amendments.

You can find the full list of how all MPs voted here.

Surfers Against Sewage, the organisation that has been at the forefront of this fight for 31 years, has launched a new campaign, encouraging supporters to get involved and in touch with their local MPs:

“The campaign to #EndSewagePollution is far from over. Our voices and our action meant the parliamentary vote on this was very close with MPs from all parties voting in support of this legal duty on water companies,” wrote the group on its website.

“And whilst we lost the vote, this tight race will have sent a clear message to Ministers that much more must be done,” they added.

CEO of Surfers Against Sewage, Hugo Tagholm described the decision taken by the government as “shocking”and questioned its sincerity in mounting a significant course of action to save the environment.

“In this most important of environmental decades, it’s shocking that the government recommended that MPs reject progressive and ambitious amendments that would protect water, air and nature.

“Why wouldn’t they want water companies to have a legal obligation not to pollute our rivers and ocean with sewage, for example? It beggars belief and hardly shows a commitment to be the greenest government ever.

“It’s time for more ambitious thinking and law that builds protected nature back into public ownership rather than leaving it to the ravages of shareholder interests.

“Thanks to all the supporters who contacted their MP - we need your help more than ever in the campaign to End Sewage Pollution,” he added.