Jenny Riddell-Carpenter joins Defra in Burnham reshuffle

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter has become a junior minister for the first time after being appointed as parliamentary under-secretary of state at Defra as prime minister Andy Burnham reshaped the department’s ministerial team.

The Suffolk Coastal MP joins Stephen Morgan at Defra, with Mr Morgan moving from minister of state for food security and rural affairs to the junior ministerial rank, while Emma Hardy has been promoted to minister of state.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock remains as parliamentary under-secretary of state, making her the only Defra minister to retain her existing role.

See also: Angela Eagle comes home to roost as Defra secretary

Ms Riddell-Carpenter said she was “delighted” to join Defra as a minister in a post on Facebook.

The reshuffle also sees Mary Creagh leave the department after serving as minister for nature since July 2024.

Proud to have served as the UK’s first Nature minister under @SteveReedMP & @EmmaforWycombe

From releasing beavers 🦫, 3 new national forests, progress on circular economy, food waste & fly tippers, I’m grateful to have served with brilliant @defra team. pic.twitter.com/BK7nlExBv2

— Mary Creagh MP (@MaryCreagh_) July 22, 2026

Her responsibilities included biodiversity, forestry, environmental targets, protected landscapes and the circular economy, with Defra yet to confirm how those areas will be redistributed.

Portfolios unknown

Defra has not yet announced ministers’ individual portfolios, leaving uncertainty over who will oversee farming, fisheries, water and nature policy.

Ms Riddell-Carpenter, who was elected MP for Suffolk Coastal in 2024, previously served on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Select Committee.

She has raised concerns with ministers over the impact of inheritance tax reforms on farms and called for changes to address farmers’ concerns.

Last year, she referred to the big six supermarkets as “acting like a cartel”, forcing unfair prices on farmers.

Ms Hardy’s promotion follows her previous work on water, flooding and nature recovery at Defra, including the government’s response to sewage pollution and water company reform.

Mr Morgan’s move comes little more than a month after he took over the food security and rural affairs brief from Dame Angela Eagle.

I’m absolutely delighted to have been reappointed a Minister in @DefraGovUK.

Being asked by the new Prime Minister to serve in his new administration is an immense honour with his commitment to put more power in people’s hands, drive good growth in every postcode and put hope… pic.twitter.com/ZiRv3zw9M3

— Stephen Morgan MP (@StephenMorganMP) July 22, 2026

If he retains responsibility for farming, the portfolio would move from minister of state level to parliamentary under-secretary level. If it passes to Ms Hardy, farming would remain represented at minister of state level.

One possibility is that farming could be handed to Ms Riddell-Carpenter, given her recent leadership of the Labour Rural Research Group, her previous Efra committee role, and her representation of a rural constituency – in contrast to Mr Morgan, whose Portsmouth South seat has stronger maritime links.

Eagle returns

The changes follow Dame Angela Eagle’s appointment as environment secretary, replacing Emma Reynolds, who had held the role since September 2025. She has been appointed as chief secretary to the Treasury.