Clean river campaigners and Anna Dixon continue campaign against local river pollution in Parliament
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Members of the Ilkley Clean River Group and Shipley MP Anna Dixon joined forces again in Parliament on Tuesday to continue their campaign for large-scale reform of the water industry.
Campaigners, including Prof Becky Malby, attended a parliamentary event co-hosted by Ms Dixon. The meeting celebrated the launch of Channel 4’s acclaimed series, ‘Dirty Business,’ about the water company sewage-dumping scandal.
Anna Dixon’s event gave campaigning organisations from across the country, and the team behind Dirty Business, the opportunity to lobby MPs for action. Speakers included Ash Smith, co-founder of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution; Laura McCutcheon, producer of Dirty Business; and Rob Forrester, a former Environment Agency employee and whistleblower.
Dixon expressed that the “momentum for radical change in the water sector is growing,” with over 100 MPs attending.
Anna Dixon MP said: “When I ran for election to Parliament in the summer of 2024, I did so on a pledge to tackle the disgraceful sewage pollution in the River Aire and the River Wharfe.
“Between 2021 and 2023, the previous Conservative Government allowed raw sewage to be pumped into our local rivers for over 17.500 hours, according to Environment Agency data. At the same time, privatised companies like Yorkshire Water hiked consumer bills and creamed off millions in dividends and interest.
“I’m proud of the action this Labour Government has taken so far, including banning bonuses for the bosses of failing water companies, and scrapping the ineffective regulator Ofwat.
“But we need to go further and faster. That’s why I am delighted at the huge success of today’s event in Parliament. The Dirty Business programme has now brought this issue into the spotlight and recognises the hard work campaigners like the Ilkley Clean River Group and Prof Becky Malby have been putting in for years, conducting research and campaigning to protect our local rivers.
“I’m proud to have worked closely with the Ilkley Clean River Group and other campaigners throughout my time in Parliament. The incredible number of MPs at today's meeting just shows how much the momentum for change in the water sector is building.
“I promised to address this issue before entering Parliament, and I am committed to ensuring affordable water bills and clean rivers become a reality.”
Prof Becky Malby, who also appeared in the Dirty Business docu-drama, added: “Dirty Business reignited public outrage at the shocking pollution of our rivers, lakes and seas, and how the risk to the public's health from paddling in e-coli infested waters, to the insecurity of our water supply, is being normalised by water companies and their lobbyists.
“Grassroots campaigners, members of the Sewage Campaign Network, took this outrage to parliament this week, catching the attention of over 100 MPs who came to hear how public ownership will secure cleaner, cheaper and fairer water, and ensure we have a sustainable supply in the future.
“Despite scaremongering that public ownership is expensive, water campaigners shared international experience that has delivered cheaper water, and showed how we can have a modern, bespoke public system.
“As more and more stories of shocking health scandals emerge, water is not safe in the hands of private companies. The Dirty Business team, the real people featured and the actors joined up with the campaigners to deliver a clear message - pollution for profit is damaging our environment and making us sick, and it has to stop.”
