Award Feargal Sharkey a knighthood for environmental campaigning, Liberal Democrats demand
The party's deputy leader Daisy Cooper has penned a letter to Rishi Sunak recommending they award Undertones star Feargal Sharkey for a knighthood instead of water firm executives.
Ministers should block all honours for water firm executives, the Liberal Democrats have demanded.
The party’s deputy leader Daisy Cooper has penned a letter to Rishi Sunak recommending they award Undertones star Feargal Sharkey for a knighthood instead.
She said: “Feargal Sharkey, a keen fisherman, has been an important campaigner highlighting the damage done to our rivers, lakes and seas by water companies that have been allowed to pollute without any serious action by the government or toothless regulators.
“At the very least, we urge you to block all honours for water firm executives, who have run the industry into debt and disrepair. Whilst they reward themselves with eye-watering bonuses for polluting the environment, they should never receive a single shred of praise from the government.
“In Feargal, the country has an environmental champion and national treasure, worthy of a knighthood.”
Mr Sharkey, who was the lead vocalist for the Derry punk band in the 1970s and 80s, has been a high-profile clean water campaigner for several years.
He was inspired by his love for the River Faughan in the north west as a child.
In her letter to Mr Sunak, Ms Cooper said: “Do you agree that it is time for you to send the water industry a message and reward campaigners taking on disgraced firms?”
Water companies across Great Britain have dumped sewage 1.4 million times, lasting more than 10 million hours.
The Daily Express has highlighted the state of the nation's rivers and coasts through the Green Britain Needs You campaign.
Ms Cooper said: “The British public has been alerted to the scandal of sewage being pumped into lakes, coastlines and rivers.
“This polluting habit by the UK’s water industry has caused untold destruction, killing animals and wrecking natural habitats, as well as closing beaches to families.
“Our country’s great waterways, once the envy of the world, are now dirtied by water firms who show complete disregard for our environment”
Water company bosses pocketed a record £10 million in salaries last year despite mounting outrage over sewage pollution.
Financial records show that the sums paid to water bosses soared by £876,000 in 2022/2023 compared to 2021/2022.
Five chief executives turned down their bonuses last year - but a further £9.7million in bonuses were paid to water industry chief executives.
Water UK and Feargal Sharkey have been contacted for a comment.
Letter to Rishi Sunak from Daisy Cooper
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to ask you to consider awarding a knighthood to the committed and passionate water campaigner, Feargal Sharkey.
As you know, the British public has been alerted to the scandal of sewage being pumped into lakes, coastlines and rivers.
This polluting habit by the UK’s water industry has caused untold destruction, killing animals and wrecking natural habitats, as well as closing beaches to families.
Our country’s great waterways, once the envy of the world, are now dirtied by water firms who show complete disregard for our environment.
I’m proud that my party has led efforts to hold this government and the water industry to account, but one individual in particular stands out, for doing far more to protect our waterways than any Minister has ever managed.
Feargal Sharkey, a keen fisherman, has been an important campaigner highlighting the damage done to our rivers, lakes and seas by water companies that have been allowed to pollute without any serious action by the government or toothless regulators.
Water companies across Great Britain have dumped sewage 1.4 million times, lasting more than 10 million hours.
While in Feargal’s home, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Water has presided over the pollution of Lough Neagh, the province’s largest lake with some warning the recovery could take 40 years.
Do you agree that it is time for you to send the water industry a message and reward campaigners taking on disgraced firms?
We call on you to have ‘A Good Heart’ and recommend Feargal for the knighthood he clearly deserves.
At the very least, we urge you to block all honours for water firm executives, who have run the industry into debt and disrepair.
Whilst they reward themselves with eye-watering bonuses for polluting the environment, they should never receive a single shred of praise from the government.
You may recall the public’s outrage at the infamous case of Fred “the Shred” Goodwin. In Feargal, the country has an environmental champion and national treasure, worthy of a knighthood. I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Daisy Cooper MP
