On Thursday afternoon Sally-Ann Hart who is the Conservative MP for Hastings and Rye set up a debate in Parliament. The title was of World Ocean Day and sadly there were no other MPs from Sussex that spoke during that session. However one of the other MPs who did take part was Alex Sobel who is the Labour MP for Leeds North West and he is also the Labour Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA). Towards the end of his contribution he spoke about these words and he focused on the challenge facing Brighton in the last month.

It is that sort of attitude that encapsulates how little the Government care about the impact of their actions on the livelihoods of the people they are elected to serve. The tourism industry, for example, has pleaded with the Government to help it stop sewage being dumped into waters near our beautiful beaches. Last month, nine UK beaches lost their blue flag status, including the iconic Brighton beach, which was subject to 45 sewage discharges last year. Just last month, the Government blocked Labour’s Bill that would have ended the sewage scandal and finally have made water bosses accountable.

Our coastal communities should not have to worry about water companies using their water as open sewers while the Government turn a blind eye. While it is positive to see World Ocean Day being celebrated in this way, it is now incumbent on the Government to convert warm words into concrete action and protect our blue planet.

The rest of his comments and the other speakers can be obtained from here.