Politics / Carmichael in the running for rural affairs committee role
ORKNEY and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has been nominated to become chair of the UK Parliament’s environment, food and rural affairs (EFRA) select committee.
Following the general election in July, leadership of the EFRA committee was given to the Liberal Democrats, with a chair to be drawn from the party’s MPs in the House of Commons.
The remit of the EFRA committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the department for environment, food and rural affairs and its associated public bodies.
Carmichael said: “As the son of Islay hill farmers and having represented a rural constituency for 23 years, the issues on which the EFRA select committee works have always been close to my heart.
“For the Northern Isles and indeed for the entire country, the next few years are going to be critical in determining the future of our rural economy and rural communities, which is why I am standing for election as committee chair.
“Being chair of a select committee does not give you the decision-making powers of a minister. Done properly, however, it can give you some influence in scrutinising the work of government and raising the profile of issues that matter to communities such as our own. In that way you can be a vehicle for change.”
The Lib Dem also claimed there is a danger that the needs and wishes of rural communities will not properly be understood as most of the incoming Labour ministerial team in the department come from “urban backgrounds”.
“That is where a strong voice in parliament with experience in these issues can make a noticeable difference,” Carmichael added.
The MP said if he is elected as chair some of his priorities will be:
- To give a “voice to rural, coastal and island communities in holding government to account”
- To “contribute to setting a political agenda for meaningful and realistic food security in the UK – balancing the needs of agricultural land use against policies of other departments, most notably energy generation”
- To work “constructively across party and across all parts of the UK to deal with issues of nature depletion, animal welfare and food standards”
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
