MP steps back in time to back Water Aid campaign
WEST Highland politician, Ian Blackford, added time travel to his list of new parliamentary activities when he experienced life in the 19th century.
The Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP took a walk down ‘Victorian Street’, an initiative by WaterAid, showing the sights and smells of the era when open sewage ran through roads and rivers.
The initiative marks 150 years of modern sewers in Britain and forms part of the charity’s campaign to end the global water and sanitation crisis.
Mr Blackford said: ‘It has been eye- opening seeing what life was like in Victorian Britain when people lacked access to safe water and there was no decent sewerage system.
‘Investment in water and sanitation had a huge impact on our health and development.
‘I am proud the UK parliament has made the historic commitment to ending global poverty, investing 0.7 per cent of our national income in international development.
‘As we develop the sustainable goals for addressing global development, it is clear water and sanitation must play a central role,’ he added.