Michael Gove, MP for Surrey Heath and prominent Brexiteer, has replaced Andrea Leadsom as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the post-election Government reshuffle.
Mr Gove, who famously commented during the EU Referendum that 'people in this country have had enough of experts', was sacked from his previous Cabinet post, as Justice Secretary, when Theresa May first took office.
He is joined at Defra by George Eustice MP, reappointed as Minister of State, and Lord Gardiner of Kimble and Therese Coffey as Parliamentary Under-Secretaries. The Defra Permanent Secretary is Claire Moriarty.
Mr Gove's appointment was greeted with shock by many food and environmental campaigners. Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas described him as 'uniquely unqualified for the post'. Read the blog by Vicki Hird, Sustain's farming Campaign Coordinator on the challenges facing Mr Gove in his new post.
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Published Friday 16 June 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
