Risk from Storm Babet hard to predict as rain came from east, claims Thérèse Coffey

Environment secretary hits new low' with remarks on storm that left hundreds homeless with at least seven people thought to have died

The environment secretary has suggested the damage done by Storm Babet was harder to predict because the rain came in from the east.

Therese Coffey's remarks to the Commons environment committee prompted the Lib Dems to urge her to get a grip" and stop blaming everyone else for her failings".