Politicians failing to address sewage crisis effectively.

As I gazed upon the endless pile of wet wipes and other unmentionables in the skip at my local sewage treatment works, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust and frustration. The smell was overwhelming, and it was a stark reminder of the urgent need for change.

As a constituency MP, I am no stranger to the unglamorous side of politics. But standing there, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of the sewage system, I couldn't help but think about the bigger issue at hand. The problem with policy making around the environment and other important matters is that too often, talking takes precedence over taking action. Governments, regardless of party or level, spend years consulting on common-sense solutions instead of simply implementing them.

Take wet wipes, for example. Water UK estimates that these wipes are responsible for 75% of drain blockages in the country. And yet, the idea of banning them still needs to go through a lengthy consultation process. It's absurd. We all know that these wipes are causing major problems, like giant 'fatbergs' that clog up our sewage system and even threaten to flood homes and businesses. But for some reason, the government is still hesitating to take action.

Even the House of Lords, which is designed as a consultative body, has expressed their frustration with the government's constant delays and lack of action. As elected officials, we have a responsibility to lead and make decisions that benefit the public. And when 96% of the public supports a ban on plastic-containing wet wipes, it's clear that the government is not doing their job.

And it's not just wet wipes. The issue of disposable vapes is another example of the government's inconsistency in addressing environmental concerns. While we may agree that they are a useful tool for quitting smoking, the fact remains that they contribute to plastic pollution. Yet, while I struggle to get a plastic straw at McDonald's, I can easily purchase a disposable vape with a plastic cartridge and lithium-ion battery. It's time to stop choosing convenience over the environment.

The reality is, we need to take action now to reduce sewage in our rivers and prevent storm overflows from polluting our waterways. This will require a combination of technical solutions and simple measures, like banning wet wipes. We must stop talking and start doing, and that means taking a leadership position and making tough decisions. So my message to the government is this: stop hesitating, start implementing, and let's get rid of the stench of inaction once and for all.

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