The Issues, Solutions and Long-Term Goals
The UK River Summit took place at Morden Hall on May 21st. Having loved the set-up with our venue, we also booked for 2025, choosing Tuesday 8th July as the next date.
Although we didn’t know it at the time, the UK River Summit & Festival was going to take place day before the general election was announced. The General Election took place on the 4th of July, so next year we look forward to hearing what has been achieved exactly one year on.
Looking back at this year’s panel, this blog will explore the main points each party raised, the proposed solutions and the long-term goals.
In the spirit of collaboration, we invited representatives from the major political parties. We had Tim Farron, the environmental spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield and Shadow Secretary for Nature and Rural Affairs and Kat Foxhall, Green Party District Councillor, with the panel chair being the CEO of River Action, James Wallace. A special guest had agreed to join a little later, so we welcomed Natalie Prosser from the OEP. Despite countless invitations, the conservatives were missing in action.
The Cross-Party Panel at The UK River Summit 2024
Toby Perkins (Labour Party)
Toby Perkins emphasised a "100 years of failure" in the water industry, pointing primarily to the water companies' lack of investment and accountability. He advocates placing the water industry under "special measures."
Proposed Solutions: The Labour Party proposes stronger fines, blocking bonuses for underperforming water company executives, and criminal liability for pollution. Perkins also emphasises the importance of public trust through transparency and better regulation.
Long-term Goals: He advocates for stronger regulation to hold water companies accountable, focusing on issues like leakage and investment in infrastructure to ensure sustainable water supply and improve public confidence.
Katherine Foxhall (Green Party)
Katherine Foxhall sees the core issue as the commodification of water, where it’s viewed as a source of profit rather than a public good.
Proposed Solutions: She suggests that water should return to community or public ownership. The Green Party recommends restructuring water governance to involve community stakeholders, such as NGOs and local citizens, in a decentralised model.
Long-term Goals: She emphasises fair water pricing, proposing a tiered pricing model where basic water needs are affordable, and luxury uses are priced higher. This approach aims to balance access to water and promote environmental justice, treating water as a shared community resource.
Tim Farron (Liberal Democrats)
Tim Farron criticised short-termism in politics and policy, which he believes hampers effective water management. He also highlighted the financial leakage from privatisation, were dividends and bonuses siphon money away from critical water infrastructure.
Proposed Solutions: Instead of renationalisation, Tim supports restructuring water companies into "public benefit corporations" to prioritise environmental and social outcomes over profit. He advocates for empowering regulators with stronger authority and resources.
Long-term Goals: Farron calls for strategic, long-term planning, prioritising regulation, and management that safeguards future water security. He emphasises the need for competent governance and realistic plans that address infrastructure and public trust.
Natalie Prosser (Office for Environmental Protection)
Natalie Prosser highlighted the government's failure to meet ambitious targets for water quality, noting that current plans lack clarity and effective implementation.
Proposed Solutions: Prosser advocates for a clear, actionable government plan that defines roles and responsibilities across all involved agencies and stakeholders. This includes increased investment, accelerated timelines, and stronger collaboration.
Long-term Goals: Her focus is on a coherent, robust environmental governance system that survives electoral cycles. She urges continuous commitment to improve water quality and ecological standards through accountability and transparent regulation.
Audience Concerns
Public Trust and Accountability: All speakers acknowledged the need to rebuild public trust by changing outcomes, enforcing laws, and enhancing transparency.
Short-termism in Politics: There was agreement on the need for policy that outlasts electoral cycles, with Farron emphasising the character and integrity required for long-term governance.
Human Rights and Environmental Justice: The discussion included exploring a legal framework for water as a human right and giving nature inherent rights, tying environmental and social justice into water policy.
To read a longer transcript of this panel, head to the button below…