Water Commission: Lib Dems call for an ACOBA investigation into former Thames Water executive's appointment

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have called for an urgent investigation by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) into the government’s appointment of a former Thames Water executive to its Water Commission. 

The party said “the revolving door between water companies and regulators must come to an end.”

This follows DEFRA’s announcement that Jon Loveday, a former executive at Thames Water, has been appointed to the independent Water Commission.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said: 

“It is deeply worrying that a former executive of Thames Water - a water company that is in tens of billions of debt - has been trusted to join a commission intended to repair the broken water industry. That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for an investigation into this appointment.

“The revolving door between water companies and regulators must come to an end. The water industry is failing customers, the environment and our economy and what we need is a complete overhaul.

"This starts with scrapping Ofwat and replacing it with a regulator with real power, as well as clamping down on the water firms. Until this happens, our rivers and lakes will continue to be ruined by foul sewage pumping.”

ENDS 

Notes to editors: 

The full list of expert advisory group appointed by the independent water commission can be found here.