Local Liberal Democrats have slammed Nicola Richards for voting against  a compensation scheme for swimmers who get sick from sewage.

The amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill, tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron, would have allowed anyone who gets sick as a result of illegal sewage dumping to claim compensation from water companies. However, it was voted down in the Commons this week after MPs, including Nicola Richards voted against it.

It comes despite a recent report which found a staggering 1,924 cases of people getting sick due to suspected sewage pollution over the last year, nearly triple the number of cases reported in the previous year.

Sadie Smith, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Great Barr, said:

“It’s shameful that Nicola Richards and this Conservative government have once again put water companies’ profits before people’s health.

“It is a complete slap in the face to all those in Great Barr who expect their MP to stand up and fight for them, instead of for massive companies who have dumped filthy sewage into our rivers and lakes.

“It is a sad state of affairs when swimmers are falling seriously sick from sewage while water company bosses trouser millions in bonuses.

“The Liberal Democrats have exposed the sewage scandal and will continue to hold these polluting firms to account even if Nicola Richards refuses to.”