Scrapping Ofwat Is Just the Start

For too long, our rivers have been treated like open sewers, and the very organisations meant to protect them have looked the other way. Across Newbury, from the River Lambourn to the River Kennet, people are rightly outraged by the sewage scandal unfolding in plain sight. I share that anger – and I’ve been raising this in Parliament and in meetings with Ministers for months.

So I welcome reports this week that the Government is finally considering scrapping Ofwat, the water industry regulator. Frankly, it’s about time.

The Liberal Democrats called for Ofwat to be abolished back in 2022 because it had become clear that it was not fit for purpose. It has repeatedly failed to hold polluting water companies like Thames Water to account. It’s failed to protect our rivers, failed to safeguard public health, and failed to keep bills under control.

If the Government is now waking up to that reality, it’s thanks to public pressure and the persistence of campaigners up and down the country. And it’s thanks to communities like ours in Newbury who’ve refused to stay silent while our precious chalk streams are trashed.

But let me be clear: scrapping Ofwat can’t be the end of the story. It has to be the beginning of real reform.

The price of inaction

Just this week, new data from the Environment Agency showed yet another increase in the duration of sewage spills, with some of the worst discharges in the South East recorded right here in our region. Thames Water has been at the centre of this storm, dumping sewage into our rivers while increasing bills and handing out bonuses.

We’ve seen too many half-measures, too many delays, too many broken promises. I’ve challenged Thames Water directly, and I’ve called on Ministers to step up. But the truth is, nothing will change unless we have a regulator with real teeth, one that’s genuinely independent and unafraid to act.

What needs to happen next

Scrapping Ofwat must be the first step, not a headline grabber with no follow-through. We need a new water watchdog that:

• Prioritises people and the planet over profit

• Has the legal power to prosecute polluters

• Can cap executive bonuses when companies fail

• Guarantees real-time transparency over sewage discharges

• Puts river health, biodiversity, and community voice at the heart of decision-making

  
  

As your MP, I will keep fighting for action. I’ll continue to press the Government for real reform and to ensure any new regulator does not repeat the mistakes of the past. I’ll also keep working with local groups, campaigners, and environmental experts to make sure our rivers are restored and protected, not just for us, but for future generations.