Rishi Sunak accused of being 'asleep at the wheel' over flood damage across UK

Rishi Sunak has been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” in his response to flood damage caused by Storm Henk and further heavy rain.

The Labour Party has demanded the government urgently convene a COBRA-style taskforce to protect homes from further damage.

Storm Henk caused significant flooding in far-reaching parts of the UK earlier this week, with high water levels reported in Hackney, east London, Oxfordshire and parts of Bath.

Households and businesses across the Midlands and parts of southern England, including Gloucestershire, have also been badly hit by flooding, with the Environment Agency estimating that more than 1,000 properties in England have been flooded.

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On Friday morning, a total of 302 flood warnings were in place in England, as well as 13 in Wales, while the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a cold weather alert from Saturday.

Labour accused the Conservatives of “ignoring stark warnings over communities at risk of flooding” and claimed its own calculations had found government inaction on flood defences had cost the economy nearly £4bn since 2010.

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It cited statistics from the National Infrastructure Commission that warned the number of homes at risk could double by 2055, while the government’s own analysis estimates that 5.7 million properties were at risk from flooding in England alone in 2022-2023.

Last October, analysis of Environment Agency data found that more than 4,000 English flood defences were rated “poor or very poor”.

Shadow cabinet minister Pat McFadden and shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said the Conservatives had “brushed over the risk of flooding for too long and communities are paying the price”.

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“Rishi Sunak has been asleep at the wheel and he must act now or risk further damage to lives and livelihoods.

“This is not about extra money. This is about ensuring that the budget already committed to flood defences is used to maximum effect.”

Speaking to reporters, the prime minister rejected the criticisms and said people should be “reassured” by the government’s response to flooding in badly affected areas.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

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The Liberal Democrats urged the prime minister to visit areas affected by what it called the “annual carnage” of flooding in the UK.

Helen Morgan, the Lib Dem spokesperson for housing and MP for North Shropshire, said: “The prime minister should see for himself the devastation caused by these floods.”

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