The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has received two new appointments, following Keir Starmer’s recent reshuffle of the British cabinet.
Emma Reynolds will now lead the helm as Defra’s new Secretary of State, replacing Steve Reed, who has been appointed elsewhere as Housing Secretary.
Dame Angela Eagle will be taking over Daniel Zeichner’s role as Minister of Food Security and Rural Affairs, meaning Defra will now be the first all-female ministerial team at a UK Department of State.
NFU
National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president, Tom Bradshaw congratulated Reynolds and Eagle on their appointments and said he looks forward to working with them on the challenges and opportunities facing British farming.
On her first day in the post, Emma Reynolds had a meeting with Bradshaw to discuss issues such as the impact of the inheritance tax proposals on family farms, continued uncertainty over agri-environment schemes, and the cumulative impact of trade deals, such as the recent US deal and the upcoming GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) deal.
Bradshaw commented: “The meeting was positive and we both agreed this was only the first step – more work is to be done.
“This is a challenging time for our sector. We face an increasingly volatile global situation – both due to war and a changing climate – and our nation’s food security could not be more important.
“Farmers and growers want to produce more food, do more for the environment and grow their businesses, and to do this the sector needs investment.
“Given the economic and social importance of our food and farming sector, I’m hopeful that Ms Reynolds’ economic background will help drive this investment forward.” the NFU president added.
Before her new appointment, Secretary Reynolds served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury.
NSA
The National Sheep Association (NSA) is urging Defra to ensure farmers and agriculture get the continuity they deserve as it welcomes its new leaders.
NSA chief executive, Phil Stocker said: “It is a really exciting time for agriculture when so much has been done over the last few years with major policy work such as the Farming Roadmap, Food Strategy and Land Use Framework.
“It is vital government gets these correct and so we wish the new Secretary of State and minister all the very best.”
