Flooded areas should be ‘reassured’ at response, says Sunak

Rishi Sunak has insisted that local people should be “reassured” by the response to flooding, after parts of the country were submerged following heavy rain.

It comes as opposition parties accused ministers of failing to take seriously the danger of flooding, with the Prime Minister urged to personally visit the affected areas.

Households and businesses across the Midlands and parts of southern England including Gloucestershire have been badly hit by the floods.

During a visit to Stockport, Greater Manchester, Mr Sunak said the Environment Agency was responding with “all due haste”.

The Government has been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” over flood protection, with Labour calling for a Cobra-style flood resilience taskforce to help protect vulnerable areas.

On Friday morning, a total of 302 flood warnings were in place in England, as well as 13 in Wales, with forecasters predicting showers could persist as disruption continues.

Mr Sunak said: “I spoke to people in the East Midlands yesterday who had been affected and talking to them about how devastating the impact of flooding is.

“I just want people to be reassured that the Environment Agency has got people on the ground in all the affected areas, also hundreds of high volume pumps are in practice right now making a difference and it is important that people follow the advice that has been given in local areas where there are flood warnings that have been given.

“People should be reassured. The Environment Agency have people in the ground everywhere, absolutely recognise the urgency of what is happening and they are responding appropriately and with all due haste.”

Earlier, shadow Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden and shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said the Government had “brushed over the risk of flooding for too long and communities are paying the price”.

“This is not about extra money. This is about ensuring that the budget already committed to flood defences is used to maximum effect. If that doesn’t happen, homes across the country will remain exposed.”

It comes after spending watchdog the National Audit Office last year found the Environment Agency had cut its forecast for the number of additional properties it will be able to better protect from flooding by 40% since plans were unveiled in 2020.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves called on ministers to get on “the front foot” and to “go to the areas affected by the floods and set out the support that is going to be provided”.

The Liberal Democrats urged Mr Sunak to do the same.

The party’s spokeswoman for housing and communities Helen Morgan said: “The Prime Minister should see for himself the devastation caused by these floods. People’s homes and businesses have been ruined yet again.

“If Rishi Sunak actually met with people impacted by this annual carnage, then he might do something about it.”

The North Shropshire MP said: “Under this Government flood protection plans for homes have been disgracefully slashed. This must be reversed immediately.

“This has to be the last year areas like mine in Shropshire are left to fend for themselves against floods.”