Pop singer turned campaigner Feargal Sharkey has hit out at water companies and the Government over the “shocking” state of UK bathing waters.
He was discussing the annual report by Surfers Against Sewage which found that three-quarters of swimming spots are unsafe.
Sharkey told GB News: “There was a significant movement where the Government actually was found to be acting unlawfully yesterday in the High Court with its whole approach to safeguarding our rivers to pollution.
“The simple truth of the matter is the water companies have gamed the system. If I can be blunt, we as bill payers have been had by the water industry, and the Government has failed utterly and significantly.
“In fact, the court yesterday referred to the Government's whole policy as nothing more than smoke and mirrors.”
In a discussion during Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, he continued: “What this is actually exposing is the government…claiming that over 90% are in good or excellent condition is actually something of a pantomine.
“It's a bit of a charade and according to Surfers Against Sewage, the bathing waters that they tested turned out to be in poor condition. That means they are actually polluted with E. coli.”
He added: “The truth is they've made off with £72 billion worth of our money leaving those companies currently with £60 billion of debt.
“We need a government to intervene and for the first time start properly managing this industry, because it is frankly out of control.”
