“Broken Water System ‘Insults Families’ as Bills Set to Rise Again, Says Tom Gordon”

Responding to the announcement that water bills will rise again in April 2026 – this time by 5.6% - Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said: 

 “It is an absolute insult to ask families to cough up even more during a cost-of-living crisis while our rivers are still treated like open sewers. The system is broken: it rewards failure while customers and the environment are left to pay the price. 

“Worse still, this price hike comes as water company bosses continue to pocket huge payouts by exploiting loopholes in the socalled bonus ban. That tells you everything you need to know about how deeply flawed the system is. 

“The Government’s timid reforms fall nowhere near the scale of the challenge we face. We don’t need more tinkering around the edges – we need a complete structural overhaul. 

“Liberal Democrats are calling for Ofwat to be scrapped and replaced with a powerful new regulator that puts the environment and customers first. We must move to a mutual ownership model to ensure investment goes into our infrastructure, not into padding shareholders’ pockets.” 

These comments follow Tom leading a recent parliamentary debate demanding tougher action against failing water companies and real accountability for bosses presiding over pollution, rising bills and collapsing public trust. 

During the debate, he called on Yorkshire Water CEO Nicola Shaw to resign, to repay recent bonus payments, and to commit to taking no further additional remuneration until genuine improvements are delivered. He also pressed the Government to ensure water bosses face criminal consequences when laws are broken, and to replace Ofwat with a regulator that has real teeth and real enforcement powers.