Wellington amendment voted down in Commons

MPs last week voted down the Duke of Wellington’s Environment Bill amendment, which would have placed a legal duty on water companies to reduce sewage discharges into rivers.

It was one of a raft of rejections by Conservative members of amendments introduced by peers, although there was rebellion from around 20 Conservative MPs who voted in support of Wellington amendment.

Among other Lords’ amendments voted down in the Commons included a tougher air quality target and an intervention designed to guarantee the independence of the Office for Environmental Protection. MPs did vote in support of a proposal to allow charges to be levied on all single-use items, rather than just those made of plastic.