Environment minister claims Scottish water is dirtier than England's
Steve Reed said that 'pollution levels in Scotland are worse than they are in England'.
Scotland's climate action secretary Gillian Martin said the claim was 'inaccurate and misleading'.
According to the latest independent water commission report, Scotland has more waterways in 'good' ecological condition compared to England and Wales.
Martin called for Reed to apologise for his comments made during an interview on Channel 4 News on Monday.
In a letter to the environment secretary on Tuesday, she said: 'I cannot understand how you could make such an inaccurate comment when the very report that you were on the programme to discuss clearly states the opposite.
'I am therefore asking that you acknowledge that your comments were inaccurate, apologise publicly for them, and seek to correct them.'
The row emerged after the final report from the Independent Water Commission found that 66% of Scotland's water bodies were of good ecological status, compared with 16.1% in England and 29.9% in Wales.
While Martin said there is 'clearly more to do', 87% of Scotland's entire water environment is assessed by SEPA as having a high or good classification for water quality – up from 82% in 2014.
'Whilst we of course need to be careful how these figures are used, as they are not calculated on the same basis, it is clear that Scotland has a higher performance,' Martin said.
When asked about public ownership of water during a Channel 4 News interview on Monday night, Reed said: 'In any case, it is not guaranteed to work… and we know that from looking north of the border where, in Scotland, they have a nationalised water company but pollution levels in Scotland are worse than they are in England.'
The Independent Water Commission report was led by Sir Jon Cunliffe and was prohibited from looking at the possibility of nationalising water companies in England and Wales.
Reed warned that nationalisation would cost £100bn and would slow down efforts to cut pollution.
Martin accused Reed of seeking to 'undermine the idea of public ownership'.
She said Scotland's comparatively high water performance is 'in part, due to water being a publicly owned asset, allowing for investment without shareholder returns or the pressure to make profits'.
The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
STV News is now on WhatsApp
Get all the latest news from around the country
Follow STV News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
14 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Swinney to press Trump on Scotch whisky tariffs exemption
John Swinney said the 'uniqueness' of whisky made in Scotland justified the exemption from the 10% tariff applied on UK exports into the US. The First Minister, who is due to hold talks with Mr Trump during his ongoing visit to Scotland, said the tariffs were currently costing the local whisky industry £4 million a week. 'Tariffs are very important for the Scottish economy and obviously scotch whisky is a unique product,' he told BBC Breakfast. 'It can only be produced in Scotland. It's not a product that can be produced in any other part of the world. So there's a uniqueness about that, which I think means there is a case for it to be taken out of the tariffs arrangement that is now in place. 'Obviously the trade deal with the United States provides a degree of stability for economic connections with the United States, but the application of tariffs is increasing the costs for the Scotch whisky industry. 'So one of my objectives will be to make the case to President Trump that Scotch whisky should be exempted from those tariffs. 'It's a product that is uniquely produced in Scotland, and it's a product that is much welcomed and supported within the United States. And I think there's a really good case for exempting Scotch whisky, and this is an opportunity that I have to put that case to President Trump on behalf of the Scotch whisky industry, which is a significant part of the Scottish economy. 'And the tariffs just now are costing the industry about £4 million each week, so it's a very significant burden on the industry. It would help growth and development within the Scottish economy if we could secure that deal. And, obviously, I'll be using every opportunity I have to try to put that across to President Trump.' Mr Trump's five-day visit to Scotland is largely a private one that has seen the president play golf at his course at Turnberry in Ayrshire ahead of opening a new course at his property in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday. Mr Swinney said the final cost of the policing the visit has yet to be worked out. 'Obviously, we're working very closely with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority about the arrangements for this visit,' he said. 'The security arrangements have gone well since President Trump arrived on Friday, and that's as it should be, because we've got an obligation to make sure that when we have major international visitors, when they come to Scotland, that they are protected and able to go about their activities. Pressed to reveal the bill, Mr Swinney added: 'All of that will be worked out and we'll address that with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority, and we're talking to the United Kingdom government about these questions, but it's important that we have a secure policing operation. 'It's also important that members of the public who wish to express their point of view, who want to protest about the visit or about other issues, are able to go about their exercise of their democratic right to protest. That's exactly what they've been able to do since Friday, and that's the way it should be.'
The National
15 minutes ago
- The National
John Swinney and Donald Trump to meet in Aberdeen
JOHN Swinney will use his meeting with Donald Trump to push for stronger US pressure on Israel and to seek trade concessions for key Scottish exports. Swinney is expected to urge the US president to back an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and increase humanitarian aid access during a meeting on Tuesday. The First Minister is also reported to have accepted an invitation to have dinner with the president on Monday night. Swinney is expected to make the case that the 'blunt human reality' of starvation in the enclave requires urgent international action. READ MORE: John Swinney to discuss 'horrific' Gaza humanitarian crisis with Donald Trump 'There must be an intensification of pressure on Israel,' Swinney said in a BBC interview. 'President Trump is ideally positioned – perhaps uniquely positioned – to ensure safe passage for humanitarian aid and push for a durable ceasefire. The people of Gaza face absolutely unbearable conditions.' Swinney will also press Trump to exclude Scotch whisky from the current 10% US tariff on UK exports. He argued the 'uniqueness' of Scottish whisky production merits special exemption. 'It can only be produced in Scotland. It's not a product that can be produced in any other part of the world," Swinney said. 'So there's a uniqueness about that, which I think means there is a case for it to be taken out of the tariffs arrangement that is now in place. 'Obviously the trade deal with the United States provides a degree of stability for economic connections with the United States, but the application of tariffs is increasing the costs for the Scotch whisky industry. 'So one of my objectives will be to make the case to President Trump that Scotch whiskey should be exempted from those tariffs. 'It's a product that is uniquely produced in Scotland, and it's a product that is much welcomed and supported within the United States. 'And I think there's a really good case for exempting Scotch whisky, and this is an opportunity that I have to put that case to President Trump on behalf of the Scotch whisky industry, which is a significant part of the Scottish economy.' Swinney said the tariffs are currently costing the industry around £4 million each week, describing them as a 'significant burden'. He added that reaching a deal would support economic growth and development in Scotland. 'Obviously, I'll be using every opportunity I have to try to put that across to President Trump," he continued. His interventions come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Trump for broader discussions on the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the future of UK-US trade. While a recent UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal eased some barriers, tariffs on British steel remain unresolved. Industry leaders had feared a hike to 50%, but the current 25% rate still poses challenges, particularly with no new agreement following a July 9 deadline set by the Trump administration. READ MORE: Donald Trump to meet John Swinney and Keir Starmer for Gaza talks Downing Street said both governments are working "at pace" to provide long-term certainty for UK industry and deliver tangible benefits to workers on both sides of the Atlantic. Trump is also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine with Starmer, including coordinated efforts to pressure Vladimir Putin to end the invasion. After their meetings in Ayrshire, the pair will travel to Aberdeen for a private engagement. Trump struck a trade deal between the US and EU during his meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Turnberry on Sunday. The agreement introduces a 15% tariff on most EU goods entering the US – down from a previously threatened 30% – and includes significant energy commitments.
The National
43 minutes ago
- The National
Only SNP majority can deliver Indyref 2, Swinney says
Swinney will bring a motion to the SNP's upcoming party conference that abandons the previous position held by Nicola Sturgeon that a joint pro-independence majority of SNP and Green MSPs was sufficient to mandate a vote. Instead, Swinney says a clear-cut SNP majority is the only proven path to achieving a legally recognised referendum, citing the precedent set in 2011 when Alex Salmond led the SNP to a majority, resulting in the 2014 vote agreed with Westminster. READ MORE: John Swinney to press Trump on whisky tariffs and Gaza in Aberdeen talks Writing in the Daily Record, Swinney said: 'For us to achieve that independence, the first step is to secure a legal referendum recognised by all. 'In 2011 we secured that reliable and dependable route when the SNP achieved a majority of seats at Holyrood. 'That is the only mechanism that has been proven to deliver such a vote – so that is what we need to deliver again.' He continued: 'That is why I have submitted a motion to the SNP conference proposing that we work to deliver a majority of SNP MSPs in the Scottish Parliament to secure that referendum on independence. 'The SNP has high ambitions for Scotland, and we must be bold to deliver on those ambitions. We must be ready to follow the path which we know can lead us to an independent state.' The shift in strategy comes amid growing calls within the independence movement for clarity following the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling that Holyrood does not have the legal authority to hold a referendum without UK Government consent. A senior SNP source told the Record that the Scottish Government still believes an [[SNP]]-Green majority 'should' be enough to justify Indyref2, but added: 'The reality of the past four years shows this is not going to happen. This is a pragmatic step forward that Westminster will find harder to ignore.' Swinney's renewed focus on a single-party majority is also seen as a direct appeal to undecided voters and independence supporters seeking a clear, deliverable mandate. READ MORE: Richard Murphy: Independence will be won by narratives, not technicalities While some in the wider movement believe a Holyrood or Westminster majority should be enough to begin negotiations on independence without a referendum, Swinney is firmly of the view that a democratic vote remains essential. His latest intervention reaffirms both his personal and political commitment to delivering independence through a credible and internationally recognised process. With the 2026 Holyrood election on the horizon, Swinney's message is clear that only an SNP majority will open the door to Scotland's future as an independent nation.
