'A new page has been turned in the chapter of what has mostly been a very productive chapter of relationships with government over several years,' said IWA chairman John Fletcher.

The outgoing minister was Barry Gardiner, who had been at the centre of the row over cuts in grants to British Waterways (BW) and the Environment Agency and who caused widespread anger by his claim that BW had not been transparent with him.

Numerous public demonstrations against his policies had been held around the country in November by boaters, not the kind of people usually seen as militants. The demonstrations were repeated in March, this time joined by other users of the inland waterways, such as walkers, cyclists and anglers.

The users of small boats were also unhappy with the Brighton University proposals for voluntary access agreements as the way to facilitate use of the rivers in England and Wales, a scheme launched last October by Gardiner with pilot schemes which are already mostly in disarray.