Conservative MPs allege ‘toxic misinformation’ surrounding sewage amendment

A number of Conservative MPs have alleged the proliferation of ‘misinformation’ surrounding the discussion of a vote on an amendment to the Environment Bill.

MPs have faced sharp criticisms over the weekend after just 22 Conservatives voted for an amendment to the Bill that would have legally compelled water companies to reduce their discharge of raw sewage into rivers and seas.

The bill, intended to revamp the UK’s environmental regulations post Brexit, currently allows raw sewage to be discharged into the country’s waterways.

Data from the Environment Agency shows that raw sewage was dumped into British waters over than 400,000 times in 2020.

Thousands of Twitter users have taken to the site over the past few days to tweet images of MPs who followed the government’s whip, and voted down the amendment.

Nursing minister Maria Caulfield quoted a thread posted by fellow Conservative MP Ben Everitt outlining the Bill’s plans regarding sewage overflows, saying: “This is the truth about how we voted on the environment bill. None of us voted to discharge sewage into the sea and those of who have spread lies and misinformation should hang their heads in shame. Don’t ask why MPs get death threats if you have been part of this today #toxic.”

Everitt’s post explained that: “Our Environment Bill will… Ensure the Govt produces a statutory plan to reduce discharges from sewage overflows and the harm this causes by Sept 2022…  Include a new duty on water companies to publish near real time info on an overflow, its location & when it ceases”.