Stunts, sewage and serious messaging: Lib Dems hope to capitalise on outrage at water pollution

Party unveils plans for new regulator to tackle sewage crisis and banning bonuses for water firm CEOs as it vies for attention

The Liberal Democrats are no strangers to election stunts as they vie for attention in a crowded political field: already this year they have produced a giant hourglass to represent “time running out for Rishi Sunak” and have had an activist dress up as a “Tory” dinosaur, holding a sign reading “make this Conservative government history”.

But getting their leader to fall off a paddleboard into Windermere in the Lake District to highlight England’s sewage crisis is a new one.