Shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon said Labour will set out at its party conference in September “a position that would clean up the water industry in this country, deliver value for money for consumers and bill payers, and finally work in the national interest”.

Shadow defence and education minster Stephen Morgan shared: “Labour’s plan to clean up the water industry would include cutting sewage discharges by 90%, mandatory monitoring of outlets and automatic fines for discharges.”

The politicians were speaking in Parliament during a debate on an Urgent Question on water company performance brought by Conservative MP Caroline Nokes.