Secretary of State for the Environment
- According to the Consumer Council for Water, two in five consumers are going to struggle to pay the massive hike in water bills. Where are your plans to help the households being plunged into debt?
- Why do you think vulture investors might be interested in putting money into a failed water company when two in five customers can’t afford to pay its bills, and increasing numbers refuse to do so? Could it be they are only interested in breaking up its assets and selling them off?
- You have launched a wide-ranging review of the water industry. Why have you ruled out the possibility of public ownership before the review has even taken place? Why do you disregard the 82% who, according to the latest polls, back public ownership for water? Why do you ignore the views of leading economists who say public ownership is easily affordable and would leave us all better off in the long run?
- Why did you accept a massive football freebie from CK Hutchison holdings, a part Chinese owned investment company with interests in our water industry? Why not hold meetings with such private businesses in an office or on Zoom? How else can we be sure such meetings are above board and know what is discussed? Was this naivety on your part? Or are you out of your depth? Or is it something worse?
- Why are you propping up a failed water company? Whose side are you on?
Environment minister confronted over accepting free football tickets | News | Independent TV