David Chadwick calls for outright ban on water boss bonuses

David Chadwick, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe is calling on the Government to urgently enshrine an outright ban on bonuses for water company bosses in law.

It comes as Ofwat announced bans on three water companies using customer money to fund bonuses, including Dwr Cymru - a move that the Welsh Liberal Democrats do not believe goes far enough. The regulator’s Chief Executive has also admitted that water bills are likely to go up more than expected next month. 

In total, water firms paid a total of £9.3 million in bonuses over the last financial year, Ofwat admitted. The Liberal Democrats are pushing for changes to the Government’s Water (Special Measures) Bill, which would see a ban on water company bonuses until sewage spills end and leaks are fixed. 

Yesterday evening, [20th November], Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords secured assurances from the government Ofwat will ban bonuses when water companies have committed pollution incidents, including sewage spills.

David Chadwick Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe said: 

“Our beautiful rivers in Mid Wales have been pumped full of raw sewage by water firms putting profit before people for far too long. 

“The previous Conservative Government gave water companies a free pass to dump filth into our precious waterways while taking home eyewatering bonuses on top of already inflated salaries.

“The Government now needs to listen to the Liberal Democrats and finally put a stop to it, by prioritising the Water Bill in parliament and enshrining a ban on bonuses as quickly as possible.

“Those who actively wreck local environments in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe and across the country should not be rewarded for doing so. Enough is enough.” 

ENDS