Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael elected as new EFRA chair
12th September 2024
Liberal Democrat MP and farmer Alistair Carmichael has been elected as the new chair of the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee that scrutinises Defra’s work in Parliament.
The MP for Orkney and Shetland was the sole nominee for the role and was therefore elected unopposed.
MP Carmichael held the role of Scottish secretary between 2013 and 2015 under David Cameron’s coalition governmen and as deputy government chief whip from 2010 to 2013.
He will now take over the post after Conservative MP Sir Robert Goodwill.
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The 59-year-old Liberal Democrat MP said that he will ensure that the committee “gives a voice” to rural, coastal and island communities.
He added: “I look forward to meeting with the Efra committee team in the coming days and indeed with the different organisations and experts with a role to play in this sector as we begin our work.
“Whether on fishing, farming, water quality or pollution, there is no shortage of issues for the committee to tackle in the coming months.”
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