Labour would 'clean up our rivers' says Keir Starmer on Worcester visit

The Labour leader visited the city today

Keir Starmer visiting Worcester
Author: Elliot BurrowPublished 29th May 2024

Sir Keir Starmer has criticised the government for 'failing' on keeping our rivers clean in his visit to Worcester today.

The River Severn runs through the area, and last year there was nearly 250 sewage spills in Worcester alone.

He says clean water shouldn't be something that is having to be campaigned for.

Starmer said: "It's shocking what's happened to our rivers and seas, having clean water should be a basic in Worcester and everywhere else.

"I do think we could better enforce the regulations we've got, and properly monitoring what's happening and I want liability to the top of the water companies.

"We've got to stop paying bonuses to those in the water sector who are responsible for these sewage spills, and take stronger action."

Speaking to students at the University of Worcester, Starmer also said Labour are planning to bring in an extra 40,000 NHS appointments each week.

Elsewhere, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been pledging for 100,000 more apprenticeships a year by getting rid of 'rip-off' degrees.

Sunak said: "There are university degrees that are letting young people down.

"Independent studies say that around one in five people who are on degrees would've been financially better off not doing them.

"We would close down underperforming university degrees that are letting young people down, and instead use that money to fund 100,000 new apprenticeships."

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