MPs who did not vote to stop companies dumping sewage into rivers ‘failed their constituents’ an environmental campaigner has said.

In a vote last week on proposals designed to clean up rivers, 22 Conservative MPs – including Basildon and Billericay MP John Baron – rebelled in a failed bid to clean up the country’s rivers.

MPs voted 268 to 204, majority 64, to disagree with proposals tabled by Crossbench peer the Duke of Wellington which sought to place a new duty on water companies to reduce raw sewage discharges into rivers.

South Basildon and East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe, Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris and Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price all voted with the Government whip to allow waste to continue to be pumped into rivers.

Jon Fuller, group co-ordinator at the Southeast Essex Friends of the Earth, said: “We have every right to expect out MPs to protect us and wildlife from the dreadful effects of raw sewage.

“It is a serious public health risk and there is no excuse for any MP abstaining or voting in favour. It is irresponsible and callous.

“We need MPs to revisit this and take immediate steps to clean up our rivers and ensure this is stamped out.”

He added: “Not recording a vote or abstaining makes it seem that you know that the Government’s position is wrong, it’s unjustifiable, but you haven’t got the courage to speak up.

“John Baron MP had the courage to do the right thing, and we should applaud him for doing that. But the other MPs, we must demand of them that they do better than this.”

Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge and Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois did not record a vote – both have been contacted to confirm whether they were abstaining or were unable to attend.

Seventy Conservative MPs failed to record a vote, as did 36 Labour MPs.

Speaking about his decision to rebel, John Baron MP said: “The Environment Bill contains many excellent features, and amendment 45 contained some useful provisions which would have compelled the authorities to take greater steps to improve water quality in many of our rivers and water courses.

“There may have been additional costs to water and sewage companies, some of which may have been passed on to consumers via water bills, but the overall benefit would more than justify this.”