Villiers: Let’s take back control of environmental regulation

Villiers said she was “more than ready to seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” brought about by “getting Brexit done”.

“This is an opportunity that no environment secretary has had for decades,” she said. “For over 40 years, the vast majority of work for DEFRA and its predecessors involved rubber stamping and implementing decisions made in Brussels. Well, all of that is going to change.” 

Villiers said the UK now had the chance “to take back control of our rules on farming, on animal welfare, on the environment and on fisheries”.