Farming leaders welcome the appointment.
Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds has been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, replacing Steve Reed.
The move follows a cabinet reshuffle announced on 5 September, after the resignation of Angela Rayner for underpaying stamp duty on a flat in Hove.
Ms Reynolds previously served as economic secretary to the HM Treasury and parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions.
She wrote on X: ‘Delighted to be appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary of State for DEFRA and look forward to building on the excellent work of @SteveReedMP - cleaning up our rivers, backing British farming and ensuring nature’s recovery'.
Welcoming the decision, NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “I would like to congratulate Emma on her appointment as Defra Secretary of State.
“I look forward to working closely with her in the months ahead and hope she uses the role to champion farming, ensure its high production standards are valued and invest in its future with policies that back British farming and deliver for food security.”
Rob Mutimer, chair of the National Pig Association, also congratulated Ms Reynolds on the appointment, adding: “She joins the department at a time of significant change, and we call on her to work with us to deliver policies that support UK food security and champion our high-end British pig sector.
“The NPA stands ready to support her and the new Minister of State for Food Security, Dame Angela Eagle MP, in any way we can as they get to grips with their new briefs.”
The cabinet reshuffle also saw the appointment of Dame Angela Eagle as farming minister, who takes over the role from Daniel Zeichner.
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Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.
