Feargal Sharkey, the former Undertones singer turned environmental campaigner, has launched a scathing attack on the government's failure to implement meaningful water reforms, as Britain's sewage scandal shows no signs of abating.
The punk legend, now a leading voice in the fight for clean rivers, has highlighted how ministers have quietly shelved key recommendations from the Cunliffe Report - an independent review commissioned to address England's failing water infrastructure.
The Forgotten Report
Nearly three years after its publication, Sharkey points out that crucial proposals from the Cunliffe Report have been ignored. "The government asked for this expert advice, paid for it, and then simply filed it away," he told The Independent.
The shelved recommendations included:
- Establishing clear minimum standards for river health
- Creating a dedicated water protection agency
- Implementing stronger enforcement against polluters
Sewage Spills Continue Unabated
Meanwhile, water companies discharged raw sewage into English rivers over 300,000 times last year alone. Sharkey argues this environmental catastrophe stems directly from political inaction. "Ministers have had every opportunity to fix this," he said. "Instead they've chosen to protect water company profits over public health."
A System in Crisis
The campaigner paints a damning picture of Britain's water management:
- Victorian-era sewage infrastructure unfit for modern demands
- Regulators chronically underfunded and understaffed
- No meaningful penalties for repeat offenders
"This isn't just about dirty rivers," Sharkey warns. "It's about a complete breakdown in environmental governance that threatens public health and wildlife."
Call to Action
With public anger growing, Sharkey is demanding immediate action:
- Implement the Cunliffe recommendations in full
- Hold water company executives personally accountable
- Invest properly in sewage infrastructure
"The solutions exist," he insists. "What's missing is the political will to make them happen."
