Sewage vote outcry prompts Tory MPs to defend decision on social media

Conservative politicians release almost identical statements following anger over rejection of environment bill amendment

The government has launched a defensive social media campaign after MPs faced anger from their constituents over last week's sewage vote, in which an amendment to the environment bill that would have placed a legal duty on water companies not to pump waste into rivers was voted down.

Many Conservative MPs posted almost identical statements on Monday morning after a weekend of anger over the vote. Government sources confirmed to the Guardian that the information in these posts was supplied by No 10.