Following a cabinet reshuffle, Emma Reynolds MP has been appointed Minister of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
After Angela Rayner’s resignation from her position as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Prime Minister Kier Starmer reshuffled the UK Cabinet.
Former Defra Minister Steve Reed OBE has been appointed Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Dame Angela Eagle DBE has replaced Daniel Zeichner as Farming Minister.
Having served as Economic Secretary and City Minister from January 2025 to September 2025, Emma Reynolds MP was appointed as the new Defra Minister.
David Lammy will now take on the role of Deputy Prime Minister, while also standing as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.
National Farmers’ Union
Responding to Emma Reynolds MP’s appointment as Secretary of State for Defra, National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw said: “I would like to congratulate Emma Reynolds MP 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.
“I would also like to thank Steve Reed MP for his time in post. Despite not always agreeing, we developed a strong working relationship and his door was always open to the NFU.
“He recognised the planning system needed significant change to enable investment in the farm infrastructure of the future. I am confident he will be able to support rural growth and farming communities in his new role at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.”
British Poultry Council
British Poultry Council (BPC) chief executive, Richard Griffiths, stated: “We congratulate Emma Reynolds on her appointment. British poultry meat producers play a crucial role feeding the nation. We look forward to working with her to bolster our food security, support our contribution to growth, and uphold the high standards that consumers expect of UK food production.
“At a time when the UK food system faces significant challenges - including the rise of illegal imports as reported on by the EFRA Select Committee today - we stand ready to work with Defra to ensure the integrity of UK food production as a matter of national security.”
National Pig Association
Rob Mutimer, National Pig Association (NPA) chair, said: “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Emma Reynolds MP on her appointment as Secretary of State at Defra. 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.”
British Meat Processors Association
CEO of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) Nick Allen said: “Our one big wish is that progress already made on the key challenges facing our industry is not lost, and that the momentum for change is sustained.
“There are a number of initiatives currently underway that will bring material benefits to the British meat and livestock industry and shore up the UK’s food security, which we’re keen to see progress.”
Association of Independent Meat Suppliers
Tony Goodger, head of communications at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), commented: “AIMS looks forward to working with both the new Secretary of State at Defra Emma Reynolds and Department for Business & Trade Secretary Peter Kyle.
“With today’s publication from EFRA, ‘Biosecurity at the border: Britain’s illegal meat crisis’, it is essential that both meet with us at the earliest opportunity to ensure that issues such as animal disease and the potential impact to both domestic production and overseas trade are prioritised within their new roles.”
National Sheep Association
Phil Stocker, National Sheep Association (NSA) chief executive, stated: “It is a really exciting time for agriculture when so much has been done over the last few years with major policy work such as the Farming Roadmap, Food Strategy and Land Use Framework. It is vital Government gets these correct and so we wish the new Secretary of State and Minister all the very best. We want to continue to work with them, given that NSA has so far played such a positive role in agricultural reform to date.
“This does give us some challenges and concerns given that we have such a changeover in terms of the ministerial team heading up Defra. We will be relying on Defra to provide the continuity that farmers and agriculture requires.”
