Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, responding to the Prime Minister’s decision finally to call on the army to help the flood-stricken residents of Somerset, said:

“Almost a week after Somerset County Council declared the flooding a major incident, the Government has finally decided to respond. Just days after the Environment Secretary announced that he wanted to see a concrete plan presented to him in six weeks, David Cameron has had enough of Owen Paterson’s dithering and called in the Army.

“This comes after it was revealed that Owen Paterson chose to ignore a report which clearly warned a year ago that the lack of river maintenance in regions such as Somerset would pose a serious risk of flooding. It is further evidence of the Environment Secretary’s failure to take flooding seriously.”