The MP for Worcester has defended the government’s decision to turn down an amendment that would stop water companies releasing raw sewage into Britain’s waterways.
Robin Walker was one of 268 MPs who rejected the change to the Environment Bill, a decision which has been met by much criticism.
The House of Lords has since forced a climbdown, with a 153 majority.
Despite the backlash Mr Walker believes the decision was the best move for his constituents.
He said: “I can assure you that nobody voted to enable or encourage the discharge of raw sewage.
“The reason why the Government voted against the amendment was that it was trying to legislate immediately for something that cannot be realistically delivered in an instant and this could have had negative and unforeseen consequences.”
One such consequence Mr Walker noted was increased water bills, resulting from increased fines to water companies.
He added currently water companies discharge sewage and excess rainwater as a way of coping with flooding, to prevent it backing up into people’s homes.
He said: “In a city like Worcester where unfortunately we experience flooding more than most this would mean that if the amendment had passed there would be a greater chance of homes being flooded with sewage, not a lesser as the water companies would have no legal means to relieve this pressure.”
The current Environment Bill requires the government to have a plan to reduce storm overflows, considering the costs and benefits of eliminating them entirely, by September 2022.
It also requires water companies to monitor and publish the water quality impacts of discharges and for £3.1 billion to be spent on reducing sewerage in waterways. 
Mr Walker added that the amendment put forward by the Duke of Wellington would cost somewhere between £150 and £600 billion and require “complete separation of the sewerage system”. 
MP Walker added: “I have every confidence that the provisions in the Environment Bill will absolutely deliver progressive reductions in the harm caused by overflows and any suggestion to the contrary is both disingenuous and untrue.
 “I am proud that this Government has published and is taking through an Environment Bill which will continue the work that my late father started as the world’s first Environment Secretary and I am confident that this bill will help to improve our environment, protect our waters, and achieve our decarbonisation goals.”