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Harrogate MP sparks Parliamentary debate on water bosses flouting bonus ban

Monday, 19 January 2026 09:15

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has secured a parliamentary debate to hold water company bosses to account.

It comes after executives continued to pocket millions in bonuses despite a ban under the Water Special Measures Act.

The Act, passed in 2025, was designed to strengthen regulation of the water industry, tackling sewage pollution and chronic underinvestment.

It gave Ofwat new powers, including the ability to block bonuses for senior executives at companies that fail to meet environmental and consumer standards.

However, as Tom will highlight during the debate, water bosses have continued to find ways around the rules.

Yorkshire Water, along with five other companies, was banned from paying “unfair” senior executive bonuses.

This comes after last year it was uncovered that Yorkshire Water CEO, Nicola Shaw, has received payments through the company’s offshore parent, Kelda Holdings, and refused repeated calls to return the money.

Tom said:

“This debate is an opportunity to once again expose the shameful behaviour of water bosses, who continue to pocket millions in bonuses while our rivers and seas pay the price.

“This is exactly the kind of behaviour the Water Special Measures Act was meant to stop, yet executives are still getting away with it, with little sign of improvement.

“It is long past time we had a genuinely independent, tough regulator to replace Ofwat – one that can hold companies to account, close loopholes for good, and protect both the public and the environment from exploitation.

“I will be making that case in Parliament on Tuesday.”

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