Responding to the publication of the National Flood Resilience Review, Rachael Maskell, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary said:

“The Government’s weak strategy has failed to acknowledge the human cost of flooding, with no reference made to dealing with problems of damp and shortage of accommodation, and no reference made to the cost of flooding to businesses.

“This strategy has made no new announcements and is simply an attempt to divert responsibility to local authorities without providing the necessary resources or oversight.

“When the Government’s own research shows that rainfall is likely to exceed record levels in at least one region every month, this abdication of responsibility is inexcusable.

“Yet it is not surprising from a government that has cut jobs at the Environment Agency and abolished the Department for Energy and Climate Change at a time when it is needed most.”