Sir Philip Dilley has resigned from his position as Chairman of the Environment Agency (EA), citing the ‘inappropriate’ expectations of the role and ‘unacceptable’ media scrutiny following the recent floods.

In a statement released this afternoon (11 January), Environment Secretary Liz Truss said: “Today I have accepted Sir Philip Dilley’s resignation and I would like to thank him for his work as Chairman of the Environment Agency.

“He has ably led the Environment Agency through some challenging times and leaves it a much better organisation, as shown in its excellent response to the recent flooding, which saw staff working around the clock to protect and help thousands of people across the country.”

The current Deputy Chairman, Emma Howard Boyd, will become Acting Chairman while a permanent replacement is recruited. Sir James Bevan, who was made Chief Executive of the environmental regulator in October, will continue to lead its operational and day-to-day running.

Calls to resign

Dilley had faced calls to resign from MPs after he did not return home as soon as Storm Eva hit the UK on Christmas Eve.

This weekend, it emerged that an EA statement that he was ‘at home with his family, who are from Barbados’ during floods that submerged large parts of Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire over the Christmas period, as his wife is from the Caribbean island were false.

A Sunday Times report revealed yesterday that June Dilley was from Jamaica, and that the pair have a second home on Barbados.

Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley, one of the areas hit by the flooding told the BBC: “I think he should go. 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, which was also hit by flooding, 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.”

Expectations and media scrutiny ‘inappropriate’ and ‘unacceptable’

In a statement issued today, Dilley said: “I am well qualified to carry out this role, and had much to contribute.

“My reason for resigning is that the expectations of the role have expanded to require the Chairman to be available at short notice throughout the year, irrespective of routine arrangements for deputy and executive cover. In my view this is inappropriate in a part-time non-executive position, and this is something I am unable to deliver.

“Furthermore the media scrutiny focused on me is diverting attention from the real issue of helping those whose homes and businesses have flooded, as well as the important matter of delivering a long-term flood defence strategy. This same media attention has also affected and intruded on my immediate family, which I find unacceptable.

“I want to be clear that I have not made any untrue or misleading statements, apart from approving the statement about my location over Christmas that in hindsight could have been clearer.

“The Environment Agency is an extremely competent and well-run organisation, and the many employees I have met are passionate about what they do because they really care for the environment and the communities we work to enhance and protect.

“I retain the full support of the board, which I know has a strong breadth of knowledge and experience, and with Sir James Bevan as the newly appointed Chief Executive the future of the Environment Agency is in strong hands.”

Dilley profile

Dilley succeeded former Labour minister Lord Chris Smith as Chairman of the Environment Agency in 2014. He had previously been Executive Chairman of engineering firm Arup, as well as a member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Group from 2011 to 2013. He is also Chairman of the Council of Imperial College London and holds 10 directorships. He was knighted in June 2014 for services to engineering.

Learn more about Dilley’s background in Resource’s article.