There is no sign of a government plan to tackle the serious water shortage in the Cambridge region, according to Cheney Payne, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Cambridge.

She called the Labour government’s response to this summer’s heatwaves “woefully inadequate”.

Her comments came after the Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired the second Cobra meeting of the summer to discuss the extreme heat and drought across the UK. There have been 1,132 wildfires recorded across England and Wales in 2026 so far – a record for this period.

Ms Payne expressed frustration that there has been no mention of water supplies at a time when Cambridgeshire is one of the most water-stressed areas of the UK, and that Mr Burnham did not say, when asked, whether the climate emergency means the case against North Sea oil and gas drilling should be reopened.

“After five heatwaves and a wildfire at Holme Fen, there is no sign that the government has a plan to address the serious water shortages our area is facing,” she said.

“Burnham has held two Cobra meetings and the only idea he has come out with is banning single use barbecues. This is clearly not a Prime Minister who is taking the climate crisis seriously.

“If Cambridge is to be at the centre of the government’s growth plan, this must include investment now in our water supply and our rivers to stop them becoming a muddy trickle.”

Mr Burnham said the disposable barbecue ban would remain in force until further notice, following a series of wildfires.

“You can see what’s happening: 37 significant fires across England and Wales. Please do not light an open fire, a bonfire of any kind,” he said.

Retailers have been banned from selling single-use barbecues.