Sustain responds to changes at Defra following cabinet reshuffle

With the resignation of Deputy PM and Housing Minister Angela Rayner, a cabinet reshuffle has prompted changes at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Will a new team keep up the momentum on advancing a new Food Strategy for the UK?

Defra now women-led

With the reshuffle, Defra is now unique among bigger UK government ministerial departments in having a fully female ministerial leadership team.  

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Emma Reynolds MP as the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as Steve Reed MP moved from Defra to be Housing Secretary.

The Labour MP for Wycombe, elected in 2024, Emma Reynolds had been a minister in HM Treasury, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, the minister with responsibility for financial services, since January.

Upon taking the role Emma Reynolds said that she is “delighted” with her appointment and that she “looks forward to building on the excellent work of Reed – cleaning up our rivers, backing British farming and ensuring nature’s recovery”.

Whilst there was a working assumption that Steve Reed might change roles at some point in this Parliament, his move comes earlier than many had expected.  

In another big change at Defra, Dame Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey, was appointed Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs. She had been Minister of State (Minister for Border Security and Asylum) at the Home Office since the election. Daniel Zeichner MP, food and farming minster since Labour came to power, who had also held the shadow brief, has left the government.

Given Daniel Zeichner’s knowledge, relationships and personal commitment in the food and farming space, his departure has raised concerns, especially coming as a double departure with Steve Reed.  

Angela Eagle does not have a background on many of the policy issues, but she brings significant ministerial experience and could play a major role in the much–needed cross-government approach on food and farming that has begun, if she gets up to speed at pace and demonstrates this in policy discussions and decision-making.    

Among the many roles the new Defra ministers have, Emma Reynolds will now chair the cross-departmental Ministerial Food Strategy Group and Angela Eagle will chair the Food Strategy Advisory Board.    

Sustain Chief Executive Kath Dalmeny says:

“I would like to congratulate Emma Reynolds on her appointment as Defra Secretary of State. Sustain looks forward to working closely with her to build on what has happened in the first year of the Labour government for a transformation in the UK food system and on nature-friendly farming.

We thank Steve Reed MP for his service and achievements as Defra Secretary. His role at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is key to unlocking the policies needed for a food system that works for everyone, everywhere with local authorities powering a better food future.

Sustain congratulates Dame Angela on her new appointment at Defra. We look forward to working with her, particularly on the Food Strategy. 

Sustain would like to give a special thanks to Daniel Zeichner for his time as shadow minister and as the minister with responsibility for food and farming. He undoubtedly brought a passion to the brief and a knowledge of the policy domain that is rarely seen. He was a friend to this alliance and the wider movement for positive change and will continue to be. We look forward to working him as one of the most informed parliamentarians on food and farming matters as our issues are raised in profile in the House of Commons and beyond in the coming years.”

Sustain Director of Policy and Advocacy Glen Tarman says:

"The changeover of the ministerial team heading up Defra and leading on food and farming will raise concerns and present challenges for many. The new ministers have a massive learning curve on their briefs. There are new relationships to forge all round, and it can feel like we all must step back before moving forward. But there can be no let-up. This is politics. The changes are also a massive opportunity as the Labour Government now has considerable momentum behind improving the food system so that it delivers better outcomes for people and for nature and the climate.

Food insecurity affects too many families across the UK, in a food system defined by challenges around sustainability, affordability, and access - we need to see government ministers in Defra, and other key departments, progress the new and improved policies on food and farming this country badly needs. The Sustain alliance will continue to promote the solutions and evidence for them to do just that.”  

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