Richard Quigley MP has welcomed the Government’s announcement that unfair bonuses for senior executives at Southern Water are being banned with immediate effect.
The move comes as part of the Labour Government’s Plan for Change, following the introduction of tough new legislation aimed at holding water companies to account.
During the 2024 election campaign, Richard Quigley MP made tackling sewage pollution a central issue of his campaign after hearing frequently from Islanders that they were being denied the full enjoyment of their coastline due to the unacceptable levels of sewage being discharged into the sea.
Under the previous Conservative Government, communities across Isle of Wight West suffered repeated sewage contamination. In 2023 alone, a shocking 17,340 hours of sewage was discharged along the Island’s coastline – including more than 5,000 hours in Cowes – with no accountability for those in charge.
Despite this environmental damage, Southern Water awarded more than £5.4million in bonuses and incentives to senior staff over the past decade, including £312,000 in bonuses last year alone.
In contrast, the Labour Government is taking decisive action. The Plan for Change includes tougher regulation, stronger enforcement, and a record £104billion in private investment over the next 5 years. This investment will help reduce sewage discharges and clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas once and for all.
Under the new rules introduced by the landmark Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, companies like Southern Water are now banned from awarding bonuses to executives who preside over poor environmental performance or failing customer outcomes.
Labour’s Environment Secretary, Steve Reed MP, has said:
“Cleaning up our rivers, lakes, and seas after 14 years of shameful Conservative failure is essential to this Labour Government’s Plan for Change.
“Water company bosses, just like anyone else, should only receive bonuses for good performance—certainly not if they’ve failed to tackle water pollution.
That’s why Labour is banning undeserved bonuses with immediate effect, delivering on the promise we made at the General Election.”
Richard Quigley MP adds:
“Almost everyone I’ve spoken to on the Island, whether during the 2024 campaign or since the election, has expressed real dismay at the level of sewage being pumped into our waters, and deep frustration at the lack of action in recent years.
“That’s why I’m so pleased to see the Labour Government taking decisive action on behalf of coastal communities, and finally holding water company bosses to account.
“Water bosses have shown time and again that they only act when their profits are at risk—so that’s exactly what this Government is doing. We’re putting the public and the environment first.”
After scrolling down through all the ever increasing adverts, I got to the comments section! Nearly forgot what I wanted to say,
moving on,
£104 BILLION pounds, of private investment, at what rate of return for goodness sake, the private investors are not doing it for the general good of the population.
Nationalise it, it is an essential “service”, not a cash cow.
Our water bill has increased by 113% from 2024 to 2025 and we are a very low water amount user and we are being penalised for it.
Yes fine, but where will the necessary investment come from?
Oh yes, the tax payer.
Seely is back, welcoming this and welcoming that, when will you do some work of your own instead of sitting back and bloody spouting a load of lies. Your national insurance hike on employers has lost me my job Quigley. Stop defending Keir Stalin. Labour bunch of lairs and money grabbers.
Is that the same MP who sorted out the Ferries
Lol
Why is OFWAT not being held to account – they should have done this years ago
Probably some 2nd job MP or former MP sits on their
board.
All these organisations are not worth the paper they are
wrote on.
The same can be said for Royal Mail Postal review panel.
From what I have found over the years, these organisations
protect the Companies, not the customer.
“WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE CUSTOMER ALWAYS BEING
RIGHT”
Those were the good old days.
It is a shame that this repeats a press release. I would encourage Richard to draw up a list of capital projects that need doing on the Island… ie stuff that needs doing and will cost more than what the Council says it can afford or provide. In his constituency there is water/ drainage, which cuts across Southern Water who refuse to fix leaks, the redirection of the Military Road, the application for funding needs to start now, funding of palliative care, coastal defences in and around Colwell Bay and the Undercliff, a looming water crisis if his government’s housing plans go through. Richard is both a councillor, propping up the Alliance Group, and an MP, sure he can move the Council and its employees to get appraisals put together for these projects, costed and put on the lists to central government departments. Council employees need a push to do it, Richard can you help please….it will make these kind of press releases more meaningful.