Ban water bill increases until Santa swims are no longer cancelled – MP

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, told the Commons: “North Cornwall has world-class beaches and rivers but Santa swims have been cancelled due to the constant dumping of raw sewage. “Meanwhile, water companies receive millions from billpayers but then the very next day give it away to their shareholders.” He called for a “total ban on water bill rises” until the end of the sewage dumping “scandal”, which he described as “the best gift could give constituents this Christmas”. “I have appointed Sir Jon Cunliffe to lead a commission to review on governance and regulation so we can stop it ever happening again.” The Cabinet minister had earlier said: “I share customers’ anger at the water bill rises announced by Ofwat this morning. “If you find cracks in your house and do nothing about it for over a decade, the problem gets worse and the cost of fixing it escalates, and that is exactly what has happened to our sewage system.” He told MPs the Government’s Water Bill will “curb unjustified bonuses” and have money ringfenced for future investment.