A campaign group has installed a commemorative blue plaque outside MP Jacob Rees-Mogg's surgery near Bristol. Called Mogg Watch, the group is made up of concerned residents in the MP's constituency who want to raise awareness of his alleged "support" of raw sewage in British waterways.
On October 20, 2021, the North East Somerset politician was one of many MPs who voted down an amendment to the environment bill that would have placed a legal duty on water companies not to pump waste into rivers. The amendment was subsequently defeated by a margin of 268 MPs to 204 and at the time, many Conservative MPs argued that the amendment did not include an impact assessment, and the costs incurred by immediately banning sewage spills would be too great, according to The Guardian.
The plaque, which reads ‘Jacob Rees-Mogg voted to dump raw sewage into local rivers 20.10.21’, was installed on Somer Centre in Midsomer Norton ahead of his surgery, with an adhesive backing the campaigners claimed does not cause subsequent damage to the building. A performer from the group known as ‘the Big Heads’ was in attendance, dressed as Mr Rees-Mogg. BristolLive has contacted Mr Rees-Mogg's office for comment.
