BY MIKEY SMITH From The Mirror UK

Sir Philip, who chose to stay on holiday in Barbados as floods ravaged Britain, released an astonishing statement, saying he didn’t expect to have to work at short notice all year round

Welly wally Philip Dilley resigned as head of the Environment Agency today, after choosing to stay on holiday in Barbados as floods ravaged Britain .

In an extraordinary and bitter parting shot, Sir Philip moaned that it was “inappropriate” for him to be expected to be available at short notice throughout the year.

And he claimed he had not said anything that was untrue during his time as floods chief, “apart from approving the statement about my location over Christmas that in hindsight could have been clearer.”

The EA was accused of misleading the public by issuing a statement claiming Sir Philip was “at home with his family” over Christmas.

The statement failed to mention Sir Philip was at his second home on a Caribbean island.

The suntanned floods chief was forced into a grovelling apology in front of MPs.

He said: “I probably should explain that I do have two homes; my wife is from the Caribbean, we have a home there and I spend some time there over Christmas, particularly.

“And when I’m there I don’t feel I’m away, I feel I’m at home ‘cos I’m equally at home there.”

In his resignation statement, Sir Philip – since branded Sir Dilley Dally – also complained the media focus on his Barbadian jaunt had drawn attention away from people who had lost their homes and businesses in the unprecedented floods.

Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron said: “Many staff gave up their Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Their boss should have joined them. It seemed to many that this organisation was bereft of its formal leadership when it was most needed.

“The public deserved better.”

Here’s Sir Philip’s astonishing statement in full.

“I have today told the Secretary of State of my decision to step down as Chairman of the Environment Agency, and she has accepted my resignation.

“I am well qualified to carry out this role, and had much to contribute. I fully support the Secretary of State’s reform agenda to deliver efficiency as well as a better, more joined-up service to our stakeholders and the public, and so I am disappointed that I will not now see through delivery of these reforms.

“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.”

In a statement, Environment Secretary Liz Truss said Sir Philip had “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.”

IMAGES:

Sir Philip Dilley said he hadn’t said anything untrue, apart from signing off the statement about his whereabouts over Christmas

Liz Truss: “He ably led the agency through some challenging times”

PA”…the expectations of the role have expanded to require the Chairman to be available at short notice throughout the year”

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/philip-dilley-quits-floods-chief-7159384

See related iNews Cayman story published January 3 2016 “UK: ‘How was your holiday? Nice tan!’: Boss of Environment Agency ridiculed” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/uk-how-was-your-holiday-nice-tan-boss-of-environment-agency-ridiculed/