Lib Dem Alistair Carmichael tipped to chair Efra committee

Just one MP has thrown their hat in the ring so far for the position of chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee, which is due to close for nominations on Monday (9 September).

Long-standing Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, has been nominated for the job with the backing of 14 MPs, including party rural affairs spokesman Tim Farron.

The Efra select committee is made up of cross bench MPs who collectively scrutinise government policy related to agriculture and examine Defra expenditure.

See also: Retailers tell Efra MPs seasonal labour is ‘biggest issue’

The position of chair must come from one of the 72 Lib Dem MPs, following the allocation of committee chairs to political parties, as agreed by parliament on 30 July.

When the position last became vacant in 2022, following the resignation of Neil Parish, there were five nominations from the Conservative party – Dr Neil Hudson, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Derek Thomas, Sir Robert Goodwill and Anthony Mangnall.

Select committee chairs receive an additional salary of £18,309 as of April 2024.

Farming background

Mr Carmichael owns a family livestock farm on the isle of Islay and his wife Kathryn works as a veterinary surgeon at a mixed animal practice.

The farm has been involved with two agri-environment schemes; however, he does not directly receive an income from the enterprise.

Mr Carmichael outlined his priorities if selected as chair of the Efra committee.

These include giving a voice to rural communities by holding government to account, focusing on food security, holding water companies to account, improving trade deals, and working with devolved governments.

He said: “In the next few years we shall make key decisions that will set the shape and course of life in Britain’s rural communities for a decade at least.

“I am excited by the prospect of bringing the influence of parliament to inform and to shape these decisions.”