After almost 2 years of Liberal Democrat campaigning, the Government will at last ban bonuses for bosses of water companies caught illegally dumping sewage. Bosses have pocketed millions, while the companies they run wreck the environment with their actions.

Water bosses to face ban on bonuses – but move ‘too weak and feeble’, say Liberal Democrats

Taken from an article by Reemul Balla

News reporter @Reemul_B

Sunday 11 February 2024 21:45, UK

Bosses of water companies responsible for illegal sewage spills are to face a ban on their bonuses after years of campaigns and public outrage.  

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay announced payouts would be blocked to chiefs who oversee the polluting of rivers, lakes, and seas – starting with bonuses in the financial year starting this April.

It was revealed bosses received more than £26m in bonuses, benefits, and incentives over the last four years.

Senior executives from five of the 11 water companies that deal with sewage took bonuses last year, while the other six, including heads of Yorkshire Water and Thames Water, declined after public anger.

There has been outrage around the illegal activity and calls by the Liberal Democrats to enforce the policy sooner, as water firms in England plan to hike customers’ bills by an extra £156 a year to invest in Britain’s Victorian infrastructure.

While Mr Barclay said he was “pleased” regular Ofwat was addressing bonuses following water companies’ poor performances, political opponents said the ban was “too weak and feeble”.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson and MP, Tim Farron, said: “Finally ministers have buckled to a campaign led by the Liberal Democrats over two years ago, but even now this attempt to ban bonuses sounds too weak and feeble.”

Mr Farron added the firms got away with “environmental vandalism” and called for the bonuses to be banned “today, regardless of criminal conviction”.

Ofwat will consult on details of the proposed ban later this year, including to define the criteria.

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