Alistair Carmichael has been elected as the new chairman of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland was the sole nomination was therefore elected unopposed.  

He will take up his position when the remaining members of the committee have been appointed by the Commons.

“I am very pleased to take on the role of chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee," he said.

(Image: Contributed)

“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.”

Mr Carmichael was born and brought up on Islay, and his parents are hill farmers rearing sheep and cattle.

The EFRA committee scrutinises the administration, spending and policy of the government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Its previous chair was Conservative Sir Robert Goodwill, who stood down as Scarborough and Whitby MP at the last General Election.