Voters kick up a stick over sewage as four-in-10 Tory supporters say they could ... trends now
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The public could vote with their noses at the next election amid widespread anger at the amount of sewage being released into Britain's rivers.
A new poll today shows that support for a ban on releasing effluent into waterways could shape which parties people back at the ballot box.
Some 40 per cent said that they would not vote for an MP who opposed a hypothetical ban, up from 36 per cent in January of last year.
And in a sign of potential problems ahead for Rishi Sunak, they included four-in-10 2019 Tories and almost half of older voters.
Water companies in England released sewage for 1.75million hours last year, with discharges harming wildlife and wider river ecosystems with toxic chemicals and bacteria as well as fuelling the rapid growth of algae.
The polling of 2,270 people was carried out by Savanta for the Liberal Democrats ahead of the party's annual conference in Bournemouth, which starts today.
The party's environment spokesman, Tim Farron said: 'Sewage in our rivers is the biggest environmental scandal of the day. The government is letting water firms get away with destroying swimming spots and wildlife habitats, all whilst pocketing outrageous profits. The Conservative
