Sutton MPs demand bosses’ bonus ban for Thames Water following new Ofwat report

Luke Taylor and Bobby Dean, Liberal Democrat MPs for Sutton & Cheam and Carshalton & Wallington, have called for an immediate ban on executive bonuses at Thames Water after it was announced last week that the company would have to pay back £56.8 million due to poor performance.

It comes as the new government’s Water (Special Measures) Bill is set to be debated in the House of Commons. The Liberal Democrats have said the bill is only a “half-measure” and will table an amendment that would enforce an immediate ban on water company bosses’ bonuses.

The two Sutton MPs said that the steps by the regulator announced last week needed to be a “watershed” moment for Thames Water.

In a joint statement, the two Liberal Democrat Members of Parliament said: 

“For too long the Conservatives allowed water companies to get away with pumping their filthy sewage into our waterways all the while the bosses were raking in huge bonuses.

“This needs to be a watershed moment. We cannot go on with a situation whereby these individuals are being rewarded for damaging our environment whilst driving up prices for local people. 

“Disappointingly, the new government’s bill is only a half-measure and nowhere near tough enough on these polluting firms.

“That is why we will support the Liberal Democrats’ amendment to the bill, which would put an immediate stop to water company bosses' bonuses until leaks are fixed and sewage spills end”