Sunak flood response too slow and not sufficient, says Starmer

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Sir Keir Starmer has mentioned Rishi Sunak’s response to flooding is “not good enough” and vowed Labour would take pre-emptive motion earlier within the yr to get forward of the issue.

The Conservatives have been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” over floods, as greater than 1,800 properties have been flooded throughout the south of England and Midlands.

“The response wasn’t quick enough,” mentioned Sir Keir. “So I just don’t think it’s good enough for the government to come after the event again and express empathy.”

Speaking to broadcasters on a go to to the flood-hit areas of the East Midlands, the Labour chief mentioned: “Get ahead of this with a task force. That’s what I would do.”

He added: “What that means: earlier in the year in the autumn, having a taskforce that brings together local authorities, emergency response, local people, to ensure that the prevention work is done.”

Asked if Labour would supply extra money for flood prevention, Sir Keir mentioned: “Of course it does need money, but the task force is not just about money.

“It’s about getting the basics done. Getting those drains cleared. Getting the local authorities together. Having a plan.”

Mr Sunak defended the federal government’s file on flood prevention on Sunday, as he spoke to residents on their doorsteps in Oxford.

The PM mentioned the Tory authorities had spent £5.2bn on flood defences, and mentioned 49,000 properties had been made secure.

The Tory chief additionally instructed Environment Agency (EA) employees throughout a go to at their depot on Osney Island that “touch wood, we’re past the worst of it”.

Mr Sunak mentioned: “Of course it’s going to be devastating for those who are impacted [this winter], which is why there’s financial support in place, but overall investment that’s going into flood defences is at a very, very high level.”

But the Liberal Democrats mentioned the federal government had “disgracefully slashed” the funding for flood prevention schemes.

Earlier this winter, the National Audit Office (NAO) mentioned the federal government was not adequately ready for local weather disasters.

The NAO report discovered that the variety of properties set to get flood safety assist by 2027 had been reduce by 40 per cent – whereas 500 flood defence schemes had been deserted.

Baroness Brown, chair of the variation on the Climate Change Committee, mentioned: “Recent events demonstrate why it is vital that the government urgently prioritises and commits to a robust long-term vision for climate-change adaptation.”

Sir Keir has vowed to make flood defences “fit for purpose”, writing on social media that “people’s lives shouldn’t be upended by extreme rain”.

More than 1,800 properties have flooded as a consequence of saturated floor, the EA mentioned, including that the influence of excessive water ranges are more likely to proceed over the following 5 days, and many rivers will stay elevated.

Flooded households can now apply for as much as £500 to assist cowl the price of repairs, the Sunak authorities has mentioned.

The Department for Environmental and Rural Affairs (Defra) mentioned the federal government has launched Flood Recovery Framework grants for communities affected by Storm Henk that began on 2 January.

Significantly impacted households and companies may obtain 100% off their council tax and enterprise charges for a minimum of three months.

Grants of as much as £2,500 are mentioned to be out there to eligible small-to-medium sized companies, £5,000 may very well be given to property house owners making their buildings extra resilient to future floods, and farmers who’ve suffered uninsurable injury to their land are in a position to apply for £25,000.

More than 150 meals warnings are nonetheless in place, principally within the south and central England. There can also be warning is close to the River Ritec at Tenby in Wales.