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Voters overwhelmingly supported demands to fine water companies that discharge sewage and block managers from receiving bonuses. I can be revealed.
Opinion polls showed strong public support for key policies. IThe manifesto calls for protecting Britain’s waterways and cracking down on water companies that break the law.
Some 83% of adults surveyed said they supported withholding bonuses and imposing fines on water companies that illegally discharge sewage.
Only 4% said they were opposed to such a move.
In recent years, there has been growing political anger over the levels of sewage and other pollution polluting Britain’s rivers and seas.
The issue is expected to be a key one for voters during the election campaign, with the public demanding to know what politicians will do to crack down on this widespread problem.
The poll was conducted on behalf of BMG. Ireveals the level of public anger at the state of Britain’s rivers and highlights the need for action.
And it indicates the level of voter support for one of the five pledges. I A declaration to save the river.
This includes taking steps to improve river health, reduce sewage runoff, strengthen regulations, provide funds to farmers and create cleaner swimming beaches.
All political parties have been called on to support the campaign, with the Liberal Democrats being the first to pledge their support on Thursday.
Party leader Sir Ed Davey promised to “deliver the most ambitious manifesto of any political party on cleaning up our rivers and coastlines”.
He said the state of Britain’s waterways was a “national scandal”.
In addition to the five pledges, the Liberal Democrats said they would “take tough action against polluting and profiteering water companies” and would ban water companies from giving bonuses to managers until sewage spills are eliminated.
The party also promises to introduce “Blue Flag” rivers to protect swimmers and wildlife.
I The party has called on all political parties to sign its manifesto ahead of the general election in July, but some have not yet done so.
Labour has previously said it would tighten rules on fines for companies that pollute our rivers and “impose special measures on water companies”.
The party says officials overseeing repeated misconduct will face criminal prosecution under the plan.
The Conservative government has previously said its plans to tackle water pollution would also include introducing unlimited fines for companies.
Fines levied against water companies for violating sewerage rules will be reinvested in a new Water Restoration Fund aimed at improving water quality.
The Greens want an independent Nature Commission with the power to set conservation and restoration targets that can be enforced through the courts, and they also want water companies to be nationalised.
The focus is IThe campaign is committed to protecting England’s rivers, because this is a competence over which the Westminster government has full authority, but the four national parties are being asked to back this commitment with equivalent measures to be introduced by policymakers across the UK.
The campaign has the backing of more than 20 environmental groups, and prominent activists have also endorsed the five-step plan.
Polls showed Rishi Sunak’s promises to introduce laws to kick repeat anti-social offenders out of council housing and to impose licence points on drivers caught dumping were also popular.
Of 1,534 adults surveyed earlier this week, 72 per cent said they supported policing anti-social behaviour and 67 per cent supported issuing points for illegal dumping.
The Liberal Democrat proposal to raise the means-tested income threshold for free school meals to £20,000 was backed by 66% of voters.
But the party’s plan to eliminate the need to show voter ID at polling stations was supported by less than a third of those questioned.