Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael has been elected as the new chair of the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which scrutinises Defra’s work in parliament.
The MP for Orkney and Shetland, who held the role of Scottish Secretary between 2013 and 2015 under David Cameron’s coalition government, was the sole nomination for the role. Succeeding Conservative MP Sir Robert Godwill, he will take up his position as chair of the committee when the remaining members of the committee have been appointed by the House.
He said: “I am very pleased to take on the role of Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
“This Parliament will see the new Government make major decisions on the environment, farming, food security and rural communities that will affect us all.
“I will work collaboratively with Members from across the House of Commons to scrutinise and inform these important decisions.
“I will ensure that the Committee gives a voice to rural, coastal and island communities, and fully considers the interests of our fishers, farmers, food producers, processors and exporters, while holding corporate interests such as water companies to account.”