All bark and no bite? Why the government’s new environment watchdog must have teeth

The new Office for Environment Protection may not be fit for its purpose, writes Phoebe Weston

The new Environment Bill includes policies on water quality and promoting biodiversity. Pictured is a bank vole on raspberries (Getty)

There has been much talk about a green Brexit. As environment secretary Michael Gove said, leaving the EU meant not only would the UK match EU green policies, it would outclass them.

The government has now released a massive – and much anticipated – Environment Bill that will take over from EU law after Brexit.

The new regulatory body, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), will look at policies, investigate complaints and take legal action against any authorities breaking environmental laws.