Water (Special Measures) Bill Report Stage: New Clause 19

Parliament voted on 28 January 2025 on New Clause 19 to the Water (Special Measures) Bill, a proposal to add stronger enforcement mechanisms or penalties for water companies beyond what the government had already included in the legislation. The motion was defeated by 325 votes to 180. Labour MPs voted overwhelmingly against, while Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and several smaller parties supported the new clause. The vote concerned whether to expand the regulatory powers available to address water company misconduct. Those backing the new clause argued that the existing provisions in the Bill lacked sufficient teeth to compel water companies to change their behaviour, pointing to ongoing sewage discharges and what they described as inadequate penalties. The government's position was that the Bill as drafted provided a proportionate and workable framework, and that adding further enforcement powers at this stage was unnecessary. The result means the Bill will proceed without the additional measures proposed in New Clause 19. The division produced an unusual cross-party coalition in favour of the new clause. All 97 voting Conservatives, all 61 voting Liberal Democrats, all four Plaid Cymru MPs, all four DUP members, all four Reform UK MPs, and the single voting Ulster Unionist supported it, alongside eight independents. Labour, including its Co-operative Party members, voted unanimously against, providing the government's winning margin. The vote sits within a broader legislative debate over how far the Water (Special Measures) Bill should go, with opposition parties and some government critics arguing the Bill is too modest and the government maintaining it represents a significant first step.