In need of some Brussels R&R

Andy Lebrecht, currently a director-general at the UK's Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), is to be the UK's deputy permanent representative to the EU, replacing Anne Lambert. Lebrecht has plenty of experience working on EU policy, including the Common Agricultural Policy and trade issues, so he comes bearing some scars. A House of Commons report into the failures of the rural payments agency (RPA), observed that: “Some of those in the Defra and RPA leaderships most closely involved, in particular Margaret Beckett, the former secretary of state, Brian Bender, the former permanent secretary, and Andy Lebrecht, the director-general for sustainable farming, food and fisheries, have moved on unscathed or stayed in post. A culture where ministers and senior officials can preside over failure of this magnitude and not be held personally accountable creates a serious risk of further failures in public service delivery.” Clearly what Lebrecht needs now is some rest and recuperation in Brussels.