Humza Yousaf tops sewage discharge league table

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today unveiled a series of attack ads which place First Minister Humza Yousaf at the top of a new SNP/Green sewage league table, detailing the ten government ministers whose constituencies or regions saw the greatest volume of sewage dumped in 2022.

It was revealed this week that a staggering 8.3 million m3 of sewage flowed into the First Minister's Glasgow Pollok constituency last year.  

Graphics for each minister will be available for Scottish Liberal Democrat activists to use to draw constituents' attention to the failure of SNP and Green ministers to stamp out the huge volumes of sewage being discharged into waterways across Scotland.  

The latest 2022 positions in the Sewage League are:    

Position   Minister                                                                            Volume (m3)   Spills  

1              Humza Yousaf, Glasgow Pollok                                            8.3m               127                                                

2              Elena Whitman, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley            915k                553  

3              Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld & Kilsyth                               325k                  85  

4              Michael Matheson, Falkirk West                                           266k                604  

5              Jenni Minto Argyll & Bute                                                         ?                 1557  

6              Patrick Harvie, Glasgow                                                           ?                 874  

7              Mairi McAllan, Clydesdale                                                        ?                 195  

8              Lorna Slater, Lothian                                                                ?                  150  

9              Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East                                           ?                  134  

10            Natalie Don, Renfrewshire North and West                              ?                 116  

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:   

“Top Trumps just got utterly revolting. This is one league table no minister wants to be a part of.  

"People are really passionate about this topic and I think constituents of SNP and Green MSPs would be shocked to know how much sewage is pouring into rivers and waterways in their area. What makes this even worse is that since so few sewage pipes are properly monitored, the true picture is probably even filthier.  

“The First Minister is currently out in front with a whopping 8.3 million cubic metres of sewage pouring into his constituency, while the Minister for Independence and the Health Secretary are both vying for podium positions.    

“I am calling for legally binding targets for reducing sewage, a complete ban on dumping on Scotland’s best beaches and the speeding up of efforts to upgrade Scotland's Victorian sewage network.

"Whether it's in Glasgow, the Borders or the North East, our campaigners will be putting pressure on SNP and Green ministers to stand up for their constituents."