The former prime minister and his wife Samantha wants to replace a ‘dilapidated’ greenhouse and build a new vegetable patch to grow their own spuds and carrots.

Documents say the 59-year-old has “become more green-fingered” in recent years having stepped back from politics.

His latest planning battle comes just weeks after they won a six year fight for a swimming pool where neighbours accused him of creating a ‘tacky Benidorm’ resort in his garden.

The application to West Oxfordshire District Council outlined how ‘greener’ former Witney MP Mr Cameron has got since stepping back from front-line politics.

The former PM wants to grow his own potatoes (Image: Pexels)

His representatives wrote: “The applicants have become more green-fingered and would like a dedicated area for greenhouse, garden tools, and garden machinery.”

The vegetable garden would be made up of oak beams and brick to form a total of ten raised beds.

The statement added: “The proposals create a coherent and discreet arrangement of new outbuildings, a relocated greenhouse, and a vegetable garden that together enhance the practical use and enjoyment of the applicants’ property.

“The outbuildings are modest in scale, constructed from sympathetic materials, and carefully sited behind existing structures and woodland to ensure minimal visual impact on the wider village and conservation setting.

“Overall, the scheme makes sensitive and efficient use of an under-utilised part of the garden while strengthening the property’s character and amenity.”

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Their representatives said the existing storage space at their home in Dean, near Chipping Norton, “does not fully allow for garden machinery, tools, potting shed and workshop to co-exist.”

They added: “The proposed siting for the greenhouse and outbuildings makes use of an under-utilised area of the garden, with better orientation to the sun and more privately placed.

“The existing greenhouse would be demolished, and a new greenhouse proposed on the east of the site.

“The vegetable garden connects both the above elements and is the main rationale of this application. It would comprise of 10 raised beds, formed from a combination of oak boards or beams, and brick edging, to contain the soil. A grassed path between the beds would serve access throughout the new planting beds.”

No public comments have so far been submitted for the plans that were registered with the council this week.

In a plea for the plans to be approved quickly, the Cameron’s representative added: “The proposals are tucked discreetly into the north-east corner of the site, and are largely obscured from view by the wooded area to the north.

“There are no major public viewpoints of the site either from the Conservation Area or wider public footpaths, therefore visual impact is likely to be negligible.

“The applicants wish to enhance an under-utilised area of the garden for the purposes of gardening and growing vegetables, all as part of a wider enjoyment of their house and garden.

“The proposed development has been carefully considered and designed to respect the constraints of the site. It would provide enhanced facilities for the applicant to maintain their land and grow their own food and plants whilst preserving the historic value of the site and not harming the National Landscape or amenity of neighbours.”

A decision on the application will be made at a later date.

In October 2025, Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced they would be leaving Strictly at the end of the 23rd series.

Since Tess and Claudia left, there has been a lot of speculation about who could replace them.

It’s understood that the BBC held rounds of auditions for new hosts, and now it’s reported that the jobs have been offered to Emma Willis and Zoe Ball.

Emma Willis and Zoe Ball reportedly new Strictly Come Dancing hosts

A source at The Sun revealed: “Emma has been offered the Strictly job and is going to accept.

“She absolutely nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her.

“Emma is a household name and a safe pair of hands so the BBC know she will do the job justice.

“She’s incredibly popular with the public too and will suit the role down to a tee.

“She was absolutely thrilled to have been offered the job.

“Strictly is one of the biggest shows on television and to be trusted with the new era is something Emma feels incredibly proud and humbled by.

Emma will be the “Tess of the duo”, with Zoe stepping into Claudia’s role, talking to the celebrities and professional dancers in the auditorium, according to The Sun.

As the source added, “Zoe and her [Emma] really clicked and it’s looking likely that Zoe will take on the role Claudia held in the auditorium with the celebs and the pro’s.

“The BBC are excited about how their new look Strictly is coming together and think the public will agree.”

A BBC Spokesperson said: “Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.”

Would you like to see Emma Willis and Zoe Ball host Strictly Come Dancing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Twenty British nationals, one German national who is a UK resident, and one Japanese passenger from the MV Hondius are now under observation at Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, after being repatriated to the UK.

They will undergo clinical assessments and testing during a 72-hour monitoring period.

Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “We are pleased to confirm that all British nationals onboard the MV Hondius have now safely returned to the UK and are being supported by UKHSA and NHS medical experts at Arrowe Park, who have worked at pace to prepare for the safe arrival of passengers at the facility.

“Staff at Arrowe Park have once again demonstrated their commitment and professionalism in responding rapidly to a health emergency, and we are very grateful.

“Throughout this incident, we have worked closely with government departments including FCDO, DHSC, MHCLG and MOD alongside international partners to support the safe repatriation of British passengers.

“The safety and wellbeing of those passengers remains our priority.

“The risk remains very low for members of the general public.”

None of the passengers are currently displaying symptoms, and they are being monitored as a precaution.

Public health minister Sharon Hodgson said: “I want to thank all those who have worked to bring our British nationals home and the NHS workers now caring for them at Arrowe Park Hospital – their dedication and professionalism show our NHS at its very best.

“None of the passengers are symptomatic but we will monitor them closely over the next 72 hours at the hospital, as part of a precautionary isolation period.

“With no cases or symptoms among them and our stringent monitoring and isolation measures, the risk to the public remains extremely low.”

Passengers will be asked to isolate for up to 45 days, with ongoing support and daily contact from UKHSA health protection teams.

Regular testing and care will be provided throughout the isolation period.

The UK government facilitated the repatriation of the Japanese passenger at the request of Japanese authorities.

UKHSA has coordinated with public health teams in devolved administrations and UK overseas territories to identify and trace anyone who may have had high-risk exposure.

UKHSA will remain in close contact with these individuals for 45 days from the potential exposure.

What is hantavirus? 

Hantavirus is a group of viruses carried by rodents such as mice and rats, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and is transmitted by their droppings and urine.

This virus can cause a range of diseases from mild, flu-like illness to severe respiratory illness.

“There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus infections,” the health experts added.

“Treatment is supportive and based on symptoms, such as hospital care and respiratory support.”

How do you catch hantavirus?

As rodents carry hantaviruses, human infection tends to occur in places where people and rodents coexist.

The UKHSA continued: “This is most commonly in rural, agricultural settings.

“The viruses can also sometimes be found in cleaning sheds, barns and holiday homes where rodents might have nested.”

People usually contract hantavirus by breathing in air contaminated with virus particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.

It can also spread through cuts, eyes, or rodent bites.

The Government agency added: “Most hantaviruses do not spread between humans, although person-to-person transmission has happened with the Andes virus strain in rare cases.”

The hantavirus currently affecting the Dutch cruise has been confirmed as the Andes strain by the WHO.

Swiss authorities have confirmed a case of #hantavirus identified in a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship.

He had responded to an email from the ship’s operator informing the passengers of the health event, and presented himself to a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and… pic.twitter.com/4mmBd7qSA4

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 6, 2026

Hantavirus symptoms

Symptoms of hantavirus infection can include:

• Fever
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath

The UK Health Security Agency said: “In some cases, people develop severe breathing difficulties requiring hospital care.

“Symptoms usually appear between 1 to 4 weeks after being exposed to the virus, but there are reports of symptoms occurring up to 8 weeks after exposure.”