51AVÊÓÆµ

MPs say new OEP chair must build better relations with farming

Committees give backing to Dame Helen Ghosh's appointment but urge her to retain Government independece

Jane Thynne
Head of News and Business
clock • 2 min read
Dame Helen Ghosh has been employed in the past by Defra and the National Trust
Image:

Dame Helen Ghosh has been employed in the past by Defra and the National Trust

MPs give their backing to Defra's proposed chair of Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) but insist she must improve relations with farmers and environmentalists. Following an extensive parliamentary...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358

Ìý

More on Politics

Gov scraps mandatory public consultation on data centres amid ongoing concerns for the countryside

Gov scraps mandatory public consultation on data centres amid ongoing concerns for the countryside

The changes are expected to cut pre-application time by up to 12 months and save developers £1 billion on major infrastructure projects

Mia Willemsen
clock 08 July 2026 • 3 min read
Defra breached law when allowing farmers to use pesticides, watchdog finds

Defra breached law when allowing farmers to use pesticides, watchdog finds

The assessment process for emergency authorisations of pesticides is now to be updated following the investigation by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP)

Mia Willemsen
clock 07 July 2026 • 2 min read
Council vows to protect its county farms

Council vows to protect its county farms

Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for food, waste and rural affairs said county farms are 'much more than a line on a balance sheet'.

Rachael Brown
clock 06 July 2026 • 2 min read