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New Statesman
21-07-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Will Labour's water 'revolution' work?
Photo byWhy did the Conservatives lose the last general election so badly? Sewage is an underrated reason. The state of England's waterways became an emblem of national decline – raw sewage was discharged into rivers and seas for a record 3.61 million hours in 2024 – and a hazard for a burgeoning wild swimmer population. As Environment Secretary, Steve Reed has the unenviable task of cleaning up this mess. 'Loyalty and gratitude are the hallmarks of politicians. And that's the only way I can account for being rewarded with the department for sewage and angry farmers,' he quipped at a recent Parliamentary Press Gallery lunch. Since entering office, aides say, he has focused on 'three Rs'. The first – 'reset' – saw Labour pass the Water (Special Measures) Act, which introduced new criminal penalties for polluting water company bosses and banned the payment of bonuses to those who fail to meet high standards. The second – 'rebuild' – saw Reed secure £104bn of planned private sector investment that he says will allow the government to halve sewage pollution by 2030. The third is 'revolution'. Today's 465-page report by Jon Cunliffe, the former Bank of England deputy governor, calls for the abolition of Ofwat (a recommendation Reed has accepted) and the creation of a new regulator to ensure water companies 'act in the public as well as the private interest'. After its fraught first year in government, Labour senses a political opportunity. Action against water companies is both salient – polling by More in Common, shared with the New Statesman, shows that 95 per cent of people regard reducing sewage pollution as important or very important to them – and unifying. Reform voters (73 per cent) and Green voters (75 per cent) alike view it as a high priority. Yet for all the talk of revolution, some will be disappointed by Labour's reformism. Though England is one of only two countries in the world with a fully privatised water and sewage system (the second being Wales), Cunliffe's report did not assess the case for nationalisation, which Reed ruled out of scope. The revival of public ownership under Labour – the railways, GB Energy, steel (almost) – has prompted new demands to 'take back water'. But Reed insists that this is neither feasible nor desirable. 'The franchises for rail are seven years long and then they come to an end, so [renationalisation] is possible without having to buy them back. If you wanted to buy back the water companies, it would cost in excess of £100bn – and that's money that would have to be taken away from schools and the health service,' he told me earlier this year, arguing that weak regulation was the greatest problem. Reform, by contrast, in its populist guise, has vowed to bring 50 per cent of the water industry under public ownership. Nigel Farage's struggle yesterday to explain how much this would cost ('I don't know') gave Labour much pleasure but water remains a paradigmatic example of the challenge this government faces. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe An industry that was neglected under the Conservatives now requires emergency intervention. Bills, like taxes, will rise – by an average of 36 per cent in England and Wales over the next five years – to fund investment in creaking infrastructure. Reed, seeking to put himself on the side of the public, has declared himself 'furious'. But as they pick up the tab, will they accept his solidarity? Reed hopes that water will become a visible example of the difference Labour has made. 'This beautiful, iconic lake will once again be pristine and full of fish,' he told me of a recent visit to Windermere (sewage discharges have turned the lake green). 'It's by focusing on the politics of place that we can start to rebuild trust and address the challenge from the extremes.' But in an age of outrage, the risk for Labour is that no amount of delivery trumps Reform's raw populism. This piece first appeared in the Morning Call newsletter; receive it every morning by subscribing on Substack here [See also: The decline and fall of Great Britain] Related
Cision Canada
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Media advisory - Governor General to invest 5 exceptional Canadians at a special ceremony during Canada Day Festivities Français
OTTAWA, ON, June 27, 2025 /CNW/ - Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, will take part in the Canada Day National Noon Ceremony at Lebreton Flats Park, where she will deliver remarks and preside over a special Order of Canada investiture ceremony. The Order of Canada is one of our country's highest honours. It recognizes people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to our nation. The motto of the Order, DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM, translates to "They desire a better country." The following appointees will be invested into the Order of Canada: Officers Heather Rankin, O.C. Mabou, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Ryan Reynolds, O.C., O.B.C. Vancouver, British Columbia and New York, New York, United States of America Members Deantha Rae Edmunds, C.M. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Scott Oake, C.M., O.M. Winnipeg, Manitoba Kim Thúy Ly Thanh, C.M., C.Q. Longueuil, Quebec Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 Time: 12 p.m., during the Canada Day National Noon Ceremony Location: LeBreton Flats Park Notes for media: All media reporting on Canada Day festivities must register their attendance by providing their name and outlet to the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Media representatives who are not members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery will need to apply for Canada Day accreditation. To register or request accreditation, please contact the Parliamentary Press Gallery at [email protected] before Friday, June 27, 5:00 p.m. (ET). For any questions about Canada Day or to request an interview with Order of Canada appointees, media are asked to contact Canadian Heritage at [email protected]. Photos taken by the Governor General's official photographer can be made available upon request. Stay connected: Follow GovernorGeneralCanada on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Cision Canada
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - Technical briefing for Canada Day 2025, including media and accreditation information/ Français
Canadian Heritage will host a technical briefing for Canada Day and has opened accreditation for media in the Ottawa–Gatineau region OTTAWA, ON, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ - On Monday, Canadian Heritage officials will hold a technical briefing for media to discuss the event sites and program details for Canada Day. This briefing will be held via Zoom. Officials will be available to answer questions from the media following their remarks. EVENT: Technical briefing DATE: Monday, June 23 TIME: 10:00 a.m. Participation in the question-and-answer portion of this event is via Zoom and is for accredited members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery may contact [email protected] for temporary access. Canadian Heritage invites journalists to register for Canada Day in Canada's Capital Region. Festivities will take place at LeBreton Flats Park. Activities will also take place on Parliament Hill and in front of the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa and Old Hull in Gatineau. A detailed list of events is available on the Canada Day website. All media reporting on Canada Day festivities must register their attendance with their name and outlet. Media representatives who are not members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery will need to apply for Canada Day accreditation. To register or request accreditation, please contact the Parliamentary Press Gallery at [email protected]. Deadline: 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, June 27, 2025 NOTE: Members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery will be able to access LeBreton Flats Park (on foot) with their regular passes. Media can request a vehicle access pass by emailing [email protected]. To request a pass, please provide your name, cellular phone number, make and model of the vehicle and its licence plate number. NOTE: the access pass only grants access to certain closed streets for Canada Day events. No parking will be allowed and no driving on Wellington Street and Portage Bridge will be allowed. Access to streets is subject to change. The rules printed on the back of the access pass and instructions on additional signage and given verbally by law enforcement personnel and barricade attendants must be respected at all times. IMPORTANT: The use of wireless equipment, including microphones, cameras or intercom systems, that interferes with Canadian Heritage's pre-authorized frequency channels will not be permitted at LeBreton Flats Park from June 29 to July 1, 2025.
Cision Canada
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Media Advisory - Technical briefing for Canada Day 2025, including media and accreditation information Français
Canadian Heritage will host a technical briefing for Canada Day and has opened accreditation for media in the Ottawa–Gatineau region OTTAWA, ON, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ - On Monday, Canadian Heritage officials will hold a technical briefing for media to discuss the event sites and program details for Canada Day. This briefing will be held via Zoom. Officials will be available to answer questions from the media following their remarks. EVENT: Technical briefing DATE: Monday, June 23 TIME: 10:00 a.m. Participation in the question-and-answer portion of this event is via Zoom and is for accredited members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery may contact [email protected] for temporary access. Canadian Heritage invites journalists to register for Canada Day in Canada's Capital Region. Festivities will take place at LeBreton Flats Park. Activities will also take place on Parliament Hill and in front of the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa and Old Hull in Gatineau. A detailed list of events is available on the Canada Day website. All media reporting on Canada Day festivities must register their attendance with their name and outlet. Media representatives who are not members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery will need to apply for Canada Day accreditation. To register or request accreditation, please contact the Parliamentary Press Gallery at [email protected]. Deadline: 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, June 27, 2025 NOTE: Members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery will be able to access LeBreton Flats Park (on foot) with their regular passes. Media can request a vehicle access pass by emailing [email protected]. To request a pass, please provide your name, cellular phone number, make and model of the vehicle and its licence plate number. NOTE: the access pass only grants access to certain closed streets for Canada Day events. No parking will be allowed and no driving on Wellington Street and Portage Bridge will be allowed. Access to streets is subject to change. The rules printed on the back of the access pass and instructions on additional signage and given verbally by law enforcement personnel and barricade attendants must be respected at all times. IMPORTANT: The use of wireless equipment, including microphones, cameras or intercom systems, that interferes with Canadian Heritage's pre-authorized frequency channels will not be permitted at LeBreton Flats Park from June 29 to July 1, 2025.
Cision Canada
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Français
OTTAWA, ON, May 13, 2025 /CNW/ - 10:30 am. The Prime Minister will attend the swearing-in ceremony of members of the new Canadian Ministry. The event will be followed by a photo opportunity, and the Prime Minister will take questions from media. Rideau Hall Notes for media: Pooled media coverage of the ceremony inside the Ballroom. Members of the media must be accredited by the Parliamentary Press Gallery. To obtain temporary accreditation, please contact the Parliamentary Press Gallery at [email protected]. We ask that members of the media have their Parliamentary Press Gallery identification available. Media must arrive at the Princess Anne Entrance no later than 9:00 a.m. Members of the media must confirm their attendance with the Rideau Hall Press Office at [email protected]. This document is also available at
