Banbury MP calls on PM to 'do more' about the water ownership scandal
Banbury MP Sean Woodcock has called on the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham to 'do more' about Britain’s water problems.
He joined many other MPs in Westminster Hall for a debate on Water Ownership yesterday (Monday). “In 2024, the Banbury constituency was subjected to 19 storm overflows and 1,391 separate sewage spills. That totalled 18,500 hours of untreated filth pumped directly into our local waterways,” he told the Minister.
" Additionally, I receive frequent emails with constituents telling me about problems they have faced with rising bills, poor handling of customer service and wrong charges applied, leaving many feeling rightly let down by Thames Water. This, quite frankly, is not acceptable. "Whilst I welcome the steps the Government has taken through the Water Act 2025, which increased accountability, strengthened sanctions and made pollution cover-ups a criminal offence, like many of my constituents I believe these measures still do not go far enough. “I therefore asked the Minister what more the Government is prepared to do to demonstrate that it understands the scale of public anger, listens to people’s frustration and is willing to act with the urgency this issue demands?”
Mr Woodcock said many of his constituents had signed a petition calling for the nationalisation of the Water Industry.
The Banbury constituency had the seventh highest number of signatories of this petition in the country with 907 residents adding their names.
"That also makes Banbury the highest of any seat held by a Labour MP and I will always use my constituents views to inform my work,” said Mr Woodcock.
Minister Emma Hardy said the PM was is considering “more things” for the water sector.