Streatham and Croydon North MP Steve Reed under scrutiny for accepting football hospitality from company linked to water industry

Steve Reed, Labour MP for Streatham and Croydon North, and the current Cabinet Member for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is facing scrutiny after it emerged that he accepted a hospitality package worth £1,786 to attend a football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

The hospitality, provided in December 2023 while Reed was Shadow Environment Secretary, was paid for by Hutchison 3G UK Ltd, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings. This parent company also owns a 75% stake in Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings, the owner of Northumbria Water.

The revelations have sparked a wave of criticism, with many questioning whether Reed’s ability to regulate the water industry impartially has been compromised.

His Cabinet portfolio covers environmental oversight, including the regulation of water companies — an industry that has been under fire due to poor environmental performance, particularly concerning pollution.

Northumbria Water, in particular, has been in the spotlight for sewage discharge issues. The company was responsible for spewing sewage into rivers for a staggering 280,000 hours last year

Reed, now in government, has repeatedly promised to hold water companies accountable, stating that his approach would be independent and objective.

Critics are pointing to his acceptance of football tickets from a company with close ties to the very sector he has vowed to scrutinise as evidence of potential hypocrisy.

Reed has not yet responded to the claims of a conflict of interest. However, political opponents and environmental activists are demanding explanations and questioning the Labour Party’s commitment to strong regulation.