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NFFN welcomes new minister after cabinet reshuffle

England
Defra
Government
policy

Prime minister Andy Burnham has revealed his choice for Defra minister.

The NFFN has welcomed the new Defra secretary of state after prime minister Andy Burnham unveiled his new cabinet.

Dame Angela Eagle, who previously served as farming minister under Mr Burnham’s predecessor Sir Keir Starmer, has been announced as the secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs.

The NFFN has welcomed her arrival, saying she is already familiar with key aspects of the Defra brief, and is also pleased to see former Defra secretary Emma Reynolds taking her knowledge of food, farming and the environment to her new role as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

However, the new Government has no time to lose as it must ensure a viable future for farming, which is currently struggling with the impact of climate change and volatile markets.

Ambitious commitments to nature-friendly farming will tackle many key issues for this Government. It is how we protect food and national security from geopolitical and climate-related instability, how we provide healthy, nutrient-dense food to people to ease the burden on the health and care services, and how we ensure biodiversity and nature continue to thrive.

Martin Lines

NFFN CEO Martin Lines said: “We are looking forward to working constructively with Dame Angela on delivering the Farming Roadmap, the Land Use Framework and the Environmental Improvement Plan. 

“It is also good to see Emma Reynolds taking her knowledge of the rural economy and landscapes to the Treasury, as nature ultimately underpins national resilience and economic growth.

“The new Government is beginning work at a crucial time. Farmers are on the front line of climate change and we need ministers’ support to transition to nature-friendly ways of working to deliver more prosperous and resilient farming businesses.

“Ambitious commitments to nature-friendly farming will tackle many key issues for this Government. It is how we protect food and national security from geopolitical and climate-related instability, how we provide healthy, nutrient-dense food to people to ease the burden on the health and care services, and how we ensure biodiversity and nature continue to thrive.”

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