Steve Reed and Daniel Zeichner, who’ve held held the roles of Defra secretary and farming minister for the reason that present authorities got here to energy in Julyn 2024, have been changed within the reshuffle sparked by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner’s resignation.
Emma Reynolds, elected MP for Wycombe in July 2024, has succeeded Mr Reed as Defra secretary, whereas veteran Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle replaces Mr Zeichner as a minister at Defra.
Ms Reynolds strikes from the position of financial secretary to the Treasury, having beforehand been parliamentary secretary at each the Treasury and the Division of Work and Pensions from July 2024 to January 2025.
She was beforehand the MP for Wolverhampton North East between 2010 and 2019. Between dropping her seat in 2019 and returning to parliament in 2024, she labored as a lobbyist for TheCityUK, representing the pursuits of the monetary sector. Earlier than turning into an MP, she additionally arrange her personal lobbying enterprise.
Ms Reynolds mentioned she was ‘delighted’ along with her appointment and regarded ahead to ‘constructing on the ‘glorious work’ Mr Reed ‘cleansing up our rivers, backing British farming and guaranteeing nature’s restoration’.
Commenting on X, she revealed that she occurred to be going to a pig farm tomorrow along with her youngest son, ‘the primary of many visits in my new position’. She additionally attended the Bucks County present final week.
New minister
Dame Angela, elected as MP for Wallasey in July 2024, was beforehand Minister of State (Minister for Border Safety and Asylum) on the House Workplace from 8 July 2024 to six September 2025.
She was first elected to Parliament in 1992, when she grew to become the primary ever Labour Member of Parliament for Wallasey.  Beneath Tony Blair, she served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for setting, transport and the areas; for social safety and for dwelling affairs. She additionally served as Opposition Whip beneath Tony Blair.
In Gordon Brown’s authorities she served as exchequer secretary to the Treasury and minister for Pensions and ageing society.
Mr Reed and Mr Zeichner engaged properly with the trade whereas in opposition, however are usually seen to have had a combined document in govrnment, though Mr Zeichner, particularly, has been supportive on points like reform of farrowing methods.
