‘It won’t wash’: Environment secretary’s bid to cosy up to water pollution protesters backfires

A sign near the bathing area of the River Wharf in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Tests in 2023 showed the river had been polluted by effluent from storm overflows and runoff from livestock farms. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The environment secretary has caused a backlash among groups demanding an end to the pollution of rivers by water companies after a direct appeal ahead of a demonstration backfired. The intervention by Steve Reed, who wrote to activists saying they could trust him with forging change within the water industry, was met with anger by campaigners who said he was avoiding the key issue – that water privatisation has failed.

In his letter to members from the 130 groups taking part in the March for Clean Water on Sunday, who include Surfers Against Sewage, the GMB union, the Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB, Reed said he shared their anger about record levels of sewage pollution. He wished them a well-attended march and said he looked forward to working with them towards a shared ambition of cleaning up rivers, lakes and seas for good.