Exclusive: Britain is falling behind the bloc on almost every area of green regulation, analysis reveals.
EU rules designed to protect rivers from agricultural pollution are set to come to an end on 1 January 2024. / A Brexit law change is set to worsen the state of Britain’s rivers as the Government ditches old EU rules designed to protect the waterways from agricultural pollution.
Farmers will no longer have to follow EU regulations in areas such as reducing agricultural runoff into rivers.
Flagship Brexit freeport at East Midlands Airport accused of poisoning River Trent with de-icer
05/07/2023
East Midlands airport has been accused of causing sewage fungus in the River Trent with pollution up to 32 times worse than raw sewage. The Environment Agency is investigating.
The UK's Environment Information Regulations have enabled researchers and campaigners to force water firms to publish data on river pollution, but they may be scrapped as part of the Brexit process.
Brexit bonfire of EU laws could let water companies conceal sewage discharges, campaigners warn
14/03/2023
The Environmental Information Regulation allows the public to demand data from private water companies, but it is at risk of being scrapped by the Government.
‘Playing with fire:’ Scrapping rules to keep rivers clean after Brexit stirs up Tory rebellion
01/03/2023
Ministers have refused to rule out scrapping EU regulations that protect swimmers and wildlife.
Michael Gove has failed to name a single change from Brexit that has “made business easier”, as criticism of the economic harm from the trade deal grows.
A bill to remove EU-derived laws that include 570 environmental regulations will cause serious ecological harm, charities and MPs have warned.
One of the supposed ‘benefits’ of Brexit was the ‘bonfire of Brussels red-tape‘ which was promised by libertarian Brexiteers. Two weeks into the administration of Liz Truss, the new government announced that they were planning to revoke 570 environmental laws which, in order to continue environmental protections, were rolled over from EU law after Brexit.
Brexit bonfire of environment regulations will kill otters, dolphins and birds, warn conservationists
23/09/2022
Government’s plan to ‘streamline’ environmental regulations could put dormice, porpoises and bats under threat.
Campaigners say revoking of post-Brexit protections amounts to legislative vandalism. / Hundreds of Britain’s environmental laws covering water quality, sewage pollution, clean air, habitat protections and the use of pesticides are lined up for removal from UK law under a government bill.
As sewage pours into the sea along England’s south coast, eagle-eyed commentators are flashing back to environment minister Zac Goldsmith that environmental regulations wouldn’t be weakened after Brexit.
Wastewater plants in England offered waiver because of impact of lorry driver crisis.
The supply chain crisis has sparked a relaxation of rules on dumping waste water.
Government says polluters can dump raw sewage into rivers as Brexit disrupts water treatment
07/09/2021
Supply chain disruption leading to fears of water treatment chemical shortage.
Rules on waste water discharge eased due to supply shortages linked to Brexit and pandemic
07/09/2021
Waste water plants have been told they may be allowed to discharge effluent that has not been properly treated due to chemical shortages caused by Brexit and the pandemic.
Brexit’s dirty legacy just got dirtier
07/09/2021
Our sister publication, Sussex Bylines, has been publishing a series of eye-opening articles – “Toxic Shock“ on the dirty practices of Southern Water. The same appalling abuses and breaches of regulation are occurring right across the country. Readers have been horrified to learn that it is cheaper for these companies to pollute and pay the fines than to address the causes of the problem.
Environment Agency chief provokes outcry over support for watering down protections for rivers and lakes
20/08/2020
The head of the Environment Agency has called for less rigorous measures to determine water quality in England’s rivers, lakes and beaches after Brexit – a move which would allow the government to classify more waterbodies as being at a high standard.
The head of the Environment Agency has endorsed a proposal to weaken laws on cleanliness of polluted rivers, lakes and coastlines after Brexit.