Four in ten Conservative voters less likely to back their MP over sewage

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

• Liberal Democrats to target Conservative MPs over sewage voting record ahead of the General Election 

• Older voters most likely to vote against their local MP if they voted to block bans on sewage dumps 

• Liberal Democrats will introduce a policy at their Autumn Conference as the party which would create ‘Blue Flag’ rivers and protect our waterways

New polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed four in ten four in ten (40%) of Conservative voters are less likely to vote for their MP if they failed to support a new law from being introduced which would have banned sewage dumps in rivers.

This figure rises to almost half (48%) of those aged 55-64, with older people most likely to vote against their local MP over sewage. 

Across all UK adults, 39% said they are less likely to vote for their MP if they voted this way on sewage. This is up four points from February 2022 when the party first tested the issue. 

The new polling comes as the Liberal Democrats continue to lead the campaign to clean up the country’s waterways from sewage discharges. The party has been securing votes on sewage throughout the Parliament, and has been tallying up how many times Conservative MPs have voted against taking new action on sewage. 

Internal surveys from Blue Wall marginals have found in some parts of the country, sewage has surged to be as important to voters as the NHS and cost of living. The issue has also been raised constantly on the doorstep to activists in the Mid-Bedfordshire campaign. 

At their Autumn conference, the party will adopt a ‘Blue Flag’ rivers policy as part of their pre-manifesto. It means that rivers could be designated with the special status to protect them from pollution, including water companies discharging sewage into them. 

This would also give river swimmers the knowledge that certain environmental standards were being met, meaning they could swim in them without fear of getting sick. Water companies that continued to dump their sewage into Blue Flag rivers would face punitive fines.

Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron said: 

“The public now recognise the Liberal Democrats are leading the campaign against the environmental vandalism of our rivers, lakes and coastlines. 

“Protecting the environment is in our party’s DNA, and voters will know at the next election, the Liberal Democrats will stand up to polluting water firms. 

“Sewage in our rivers is the biggest environmental scandal of the day. The government is letting water firms get away with destroying swimming spots and wildlife habitats, all whilst pocketing outrageous profits. The Conservative government is literally rewarding these firms for environmental destruction. 

“The public have had enough. The blame now lies squarely with weak Conservative MPs who simply don’t care enough about protecting our waterways.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Question asked

Savanta interviewed 2,270 UK adults aged 18+ online between 15th and 18th September 2023. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region and social grade.

Savanta previously interviewed 2,365 UK adults aged 18+ online between 18th and 20th February 2022.

Q1. Thinking about your local MP, to what extent would you be more or less likely to vote for them at the next election if they failed to support a new law being introduced to ban sewage dumps in rivers? Base: All respondents (n=2,270), All respondents in February 2022 (n=2,365)