‘Enough is Enough’: Tom Gordon Demands Accountability from Failing Water Companies
Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, today led a parliamentary debate demanding tougher action against failing water companies and real accountability for bosses who preside over pollution, rising bills and collapsing public trust.
Speaking in Parliament, Tom argued that the Water Special Measures Act has failed to deliver the change people were promised, with water companies still finding ways to dodge responsibility while rivers remain polluted and customers are left paying more for less.
Tom called for Yorkshire Water CEO Nicola Shaw to resign, to return recent payments, and to commit to taking no further additional remuneration until genuine improvements are delivered. He also pressed the Government to ensure water bosses face criminal consequences where laws are broken, and to replace Ofwat with a far tougher regulator with real enforcement powers.
Highlighting the situation in Harrogate and Knaresborough, Tom pointed to the condition of the River Nidd, Crimple Beck and Oak Beck - cherished local waterways, now blighted by sewage discharges.
“People in my constituency have reached the point where they assume going into their local river might make them ill,” Tom said during the debate. “That is not acceptable in 21st-century Britain.”
Tom criticised Yorkshire Water’s performance, noting that it is officially rated as “lagging behind” by Ofwat and has one of the worst pollution records in the country. At the same time, households are facing bill increases of up to 41 per cent over the next five years, alongside declining customer service and repeated service failures.
He also highlighted how the Water Special Measures Act’s promised bonus ban has been undermined by loopholes, allowing senior executives to receive large payments despite rising pollution and public anger.
“This may have been lawful, but it is completely unacceptable,” Tom said. “It shows just how weak the system still is - and why people have lost faith.”
Tom welcomed elements of the Government’s newly published Water White Paper, including plans for stronger regulation and tougher inspections, but warned that reform would mean nothing without enforcement.
“A White Paper won’t clean up our rivers on its own,” he said. “What matters is whether ministers are willing to close loopholes, hold decision-makers personally accountable, and stop customers being punished for failure.”
Commenting after the debate, Tom Gordon MP said:
“For years, water companies have been allowed to pollute our rivers, hike bills and fail their customers - all while those at the top face no real consequences.
“This has to stop. If you poison our rivers, you should answer to the law. If you fail repeatedly, you should not cling on to your job.
“I’ve made it clear in Parliament today: Nicola Shaw should resign, loopholes must be closed, and water bosses who break the law must face criminal consequences.
“People are fed up with excuses. Enough is enough.”
