Eastleigh's MP has voiced her "disappointment" that a measure to "end the sewage scandal" by introducing a new blue flag river status was voted down in Parliament.

Liberal Democrat MP, Liz Jarvis, voted for the measure to introduce a new 'blue flag' status for rivers and chalk streams, which would have created measures to guarantee the river is clean and safe to swim in.

She was joined by Lib Dem MP for Winchester, Danny Chambers.

All of Hampshire's Labour MPs - including Southampton Test's Satvir Kaur and Southampton Itchen's Darren Paffey - voted against the measure except Basingstoke's Luke Murphy, who did not vote.

Lib Dem MP for North East Hampshire Alex Brewer did not vote.

Conservative MPs did not cast a vote on the measure.

The measure was blocked with 77 votes for and 303 against.

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Ms Jarvis said: "It is a scandal that water companies have been allowed to blight beautiful rivers and waterways across Eastleigh with filthy pollution.

"For too long, water companies – aided and abetted by a lax regulator and a negligent Conservative Party – have polluted our rivers whilst charging customers more and more for the privilege.

"It is in Parliament's gift to enact change and clean up our waterways, and everyone should have the right to enjoy clean rivers which are safe.

"So it's hugely disappointing that Labour and Conservative MPs have failed to back a new Blue Flag status for rivers and chalk streams that would help to guarantee that right.

"Liberal Democrats will keep standing up for swimmers, for our wildlife and for bill payers - holding water companies to account for their environmental vandalism."

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To qualify for blue flag status, an area would have needed to meet a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria.

This would include year-round quality water monitoring, regular biodiversity assessments, robust legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumps, a whole catchment approach to prevent dumps up or downstream of the Blue Flag, and the appointment of a local community group to represent the river and lead on community engagement.

The Government's own data has revealed that over 3.6 million hours of sewage were pumped into waterways in 2024.