Unsurprisingly, a number of people asked me to look at this story doing the rounds on all the right-wing media 🧐 So let's take a look at who is exempt from the ban and why, and when this "two-tier" situation came about (spoiler - it's nothing new!) 1/20
Parts of England are currently under a Hosepipe ban. People living there are not allowed to use their hose due to multiple heatwaves and water shortages in those areas. Using water from the tap is fine. You just can't use a hosepipe. 2/
3 groups of people are generally exempt from hosepipe bans (exact details vary from company to company) Blue Badge Holders Those on the Priority Services Register WaterSure Tariff customers It is this third group the press are suddenly up in arms about 3/ There are 3 criteria for being on a WaterSure tariff: You have a water meter (or equivalent) You are on certain means-tested benefits AND You have a high essential use for water due to: Certain medical conditions that require higher-than-normal water use 3+ <19yo children in ft education 4/
It was brought in to protect those on low incomes WITH HIGH WATER NEEDS from financial hardship by capping their water bills. And just to be clear, WaterSure was brought in 27 years ago! Remember those "two-tier" claims in 1999? Or in any of the last quarter-century? No, me neither 🙄 5/
So, in order to avoid an insanely costly logistics process to assess every individual on their books, the water companies have basically said that their de facto vulnerable customers: Blue Badge Holders Priority Services Register WaterSure tariff users are exempt from the ban.
Most of their WaterTariff customers are also on the Priority Services Register, and many are also Blue badge holders. There's a big overlap. 7/
And for the avoidance of doubt - you have to PROVE why you have higher water needs to be on that tariff. Water companies aren't dishing them out for fun! And it is absolutely NOT for using hoses to water the garden or refilling pools etc! 8/
There are other exemptions to the hosepipe ban: Elderly or can't reasonably use a watering can Newly planted lawn seed of turf (1st 28 days) Newly planted trees if you can't get there with a bucket Washing or providing water for pets Maintaining Fish pond min safe levels 9/
So with all that in mind, these comments from Braverman are pretty unhinged! “How ridiculous has this country become when you have to be on benefits to use water?" FFS 🤦♀️ Everyone can still use water! You just have to use a bucket instead of a hose outside.
You can even use a paddling pool!! You just need to use a bucket or watering can instead - a fun way to keep the kids entertained! 💦
Braverman: “It’s absurd and another act of lunacy in Labour’s two-tier Britain where aspiration and hard work are punished." Has been the case in all the years she was Tory Hosepipe bans aren't a punishment for "aspiration and hard work"🙄 There aren't enough 🙄 emojis for this level of nonsense! Of course, the Tories couldn't help themselves either - pretending this is available to everyone claiming welfare benefits. ...and conveniently forgetting these rules existed when they were in power, too! 13/
<8% of households in the country are on this tariff And I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd swap my hosepipe ban for being on a low income AND suffering from these conditions👇 Maybe those who whine about this 27-year-old policy should have to try living with a family who is...🤷♀️
The headlines are not only misleading to push their current anti-poor and anti-disabled agenda, but I worry that headlines like: "Benefits claimants told to ignore hose pipe ban" actually risk non-eligible benefits claimants thinking they're exempt and then being fined Hugely irresponsible!
I wonder if the water companies will accept "but the newspapers told me to ignore the ban because I'm on benefits" as an excuse🤷♀️ Probably not... Misleading headlines designed to push a divisive narrative are bad enough. But headlines that risk vulnerable people doing something they're not allowed to do are disgusting. 17/ Please check with your own water company whether you have a ban in place and what they allow you to use a hosepipe for. My examples came from individual companies and they have their own policies! 18/ A final thought... The "wasn't 1976 a lark when we had taps turned off and needed to collect water from standpipes" brigade seem awfully antsy at the moment at the thought of a hosepipe ban! Weird, huh!🤔 19/ As ever, if you like my stuff, please do sign up for my Substack: monkdebunks.substack.com It's free 👍🏻 However, paid subscriptions and coffee (or tea in my case!) donations (buymeacoffee.com) really help 😜 20/20