Calls for Environment Agency boss to resign
Environment Agency boss misled public by suggesting he was visiting family on island, say MPs
The chairman of the Environment Agency has faced renewed calls to resign after it emerged that claims that his wife was from Barbados, where he holidayed while Britain battled severe flooding over Christmas, were false. The agency sought to justify Sir Philip Dilley’s absence by claiming he was “at home with his family, who are from Barbados”. However, it was reported yesterday that June Dilley is actually from Jamaica, 1,200 miles from Barbados.
THE chairman of the Environment Agency has faced renewed calls to resign after it emerged that claims that his wife was from Barbados, where he holidayed as Britain battled severe flooding, were false.
As parts of Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire were swamped with rain over Christmas, the agency sought to justify Sir Philip Dilley’s absence by claiming he was “at home with his family, who are from Barbados”.
However, it was reported yesterday that June Dilley was actually from Jamaica, 1,200 miles from Barbados, raising further questions about Sir Philip’s position.
John Mann, the Labour MP, said: “He should resign immediately. He’s clearly misled people and, as ever, the coverup is much greater than the crime.
“He can no longer command respect or confidence. He should go quickly and quietly.”
Sir Philip has already faced intense criticism after he failed to return home immediately when Storm Eva hit Britain on Christmas Eve.
The Environment Agency only deepened the crisis by trying to hide the fact he was on holiday, issuing a misleading statement claiming that Sir Philip was “at home with his family”, despite knowing he was in the Caribbean.
It later confirmed that the statement had been approved by the chairman.
But when it emerged that Sir Philip was in Barbados, where he and his second wife have built a villa, the agency issued a revised statement that said: “Sir Philip Dilley is at home with his family, who are from Barbados.”
A third statement again made reference to a family connection to Barbados.
Last weekend, Sir James Bevan, the Environment Agency’s chief executive, insisted the agency was “honest and transparent and straightforward” in its handling of questions over Sir Philip’s whereabouts.
However, when Sir Philip appeared before MPs for a grilling on the fiasco last week, he was more careful.
“I do have two homes,” he said. “My wife is from the Caribbean, we have a home there and I spent some time there over Christmas. When I’m there, I don’t feel I’m away, I feel I’m at home because I’m equally at home there.”
His choice of words was explained yesterday after a source told The Sun
day Times: “Their connection with Barbados is simply that they came to visit and decided they liked it so much that they bought a plot of land and built a house. The statements about the reason for his stay over Christmas being family-related to Barbados are simply wrong.”
On Saturday, MPs from two of the areas worst affected by the floods called for him to resign.
Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley, said he thought Sir Philip’s behaviour had been appalling.
“Yes I think he should go,” he told the BBC. “Quite frankly, an amazing number of people gave up their Christmases… and the guy in charge of the Environment Agency, overseeing how effective they are in dealing with these floods, thinks he can do it from Barbados. Well, I think he should spend more time in Barbados.”
Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, said: “This is somebody who is paid £100,000 to oversee the Environment Agency and, at its time of need, he wasn’t here. And, therefore, I think it’s quite untenable that he does stay in his position now.”
The agency declined to comment.