Steve Reed stated that the anticipated rise in water bills is a direct consequence of government underinvestment over the past 14 years, leading to significant infrastructure issues. He emphasized that the public anger is justified as families are facing higher costs amid a broken water system.
Reed criticized the prior Conservative government for prioritizing bonuses and shareholder payouts—41 million in bonuses since 2020—while neglecting crucial investments to address the deteriorating water infrastructure, resulting in increased sewage pollution.
The Environment Secretary highlighted the dire state of the water infrastructure, stating it suffers from crumbling pipes and the highest levels of sewage contamination ever recorded, leading to justified public outrage.
Reed mentioned ongoing efforts to rectify the situation by introducing new rules that would ensure financial resources are allocated towards repairing the water infrastructure, ultimately aiming to prevent further unjustified bill increases.
Collection
[
|
...
]