Labour Leadership challenge threatens to delay action on Chalk Streams

19 May 2026

Victoria Collins, has warned that uncertainty surrounding Labour’s leadership is delaying decisions being taken on the future of Thames Water, risking urgent action required to protect local waterways and internationally rare chalk streams in her constituency.

Reports in the national press have suggested a rescue deal for Thames Water has stalled amid political uncertainty and disagreement within Labour over the company’s future.

Victoria Collins MP said:

“Residents across Harpenden and Berkhamsted care deeply about the health of our rivers and chalk streams, which are a vital part of our local environment and heritage. Yet these precious waterways remain under pressure from sewage pollution, over-abstraction and years of underinvestment.

“Any delay in resolving Thames Water’s financial and management crisis risks holding back the investment and environmental action communities like ours desperately need. Local people are fed up with seeing rivers suffer while OFWAT drags its feet on enforcement and the Government becomes distracted by internal political battles instead of protecting our waterways.

“The Liberal Democrats have consistently called for tougher action from Government to hold failing water companies and OFWAT to account. We need stronger protections for chalk streams, proper investment in infrastructure and a system that puts clean waterways and local residents ahead of corporate failure and political drift.”