Lowermoor victims ‘Cynically betrayed by Conservative Ministers’ – Rogerson
Responding to findings revealed to the Western Morning News under the Freedom of Information Act, North Cornwall MP, Dan Rogerson today (Monday) said the Conservative Government of 1989 had let victims of the Lowermoor Water Poisoning Incident down.
Commenting, Mr Rogerson said:
"Now we know why Conservatives opposed a Freedom of Information Act so vigorously for so long.
"Their Ministers' behaviour in Government leaves more than a bad taste behind even today.
"As Doug Cross, and his team of stalwart campaigners rightly point out, it was clear that this research should have been done right away. It would not just have given much-needed medical information to the victims, it could have helped advance our knowledge of neuro-degenerative conditions to reduce the number of victims.
"Instead, public safety came second fiddle to Tory-spin. That Ministers were so reluctant to engage a full, early and transparent inquiry into what happened at Lowermoor was surely no coincidence.
"The disaster of water privatisation saw fat-cat wealth take precedence over consumer welfare. And all for what? Fifteen years on, residents across the South West see no benefit of a competitive market – because there is none – they just feel their soaring water bills bite.
"No wonder so many people feel so cynically betrayed."
Note to Editors:
Andy Greenwood's article for the Western Morning News revealing information released under the Freedom of Information Act is available at: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/new/util/content.jsp?id=15572070
