Morgan retains farming brief after Defra reshuffle

Stephen Morgan has retained responsibility for farming and food following prime minister Andy Burnham’s reshuffle of the Defra ministerial team, although his role has been downgraded from minister of state to parliamentary under-secretary of state.

A Defra spokesman confirmed to Farmers Weekly that Mr Morgan’s portfolio will continue to cover farming and food, as well as marine and fisheries, in his new role.

His appointment comes at a critical time for British agriculture, with farmers grappling with drought conditions, uncertainty over future farm support, animal disease threats and continuing concerns over food security and profitability.

See also: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter joins Defra in Burnham reshuffle

Mr Morgan, Labour MP for Portsmouth South since 2017, visited the New Forest & Hampshire County Show on Wednesday 29 July, where he highlighted the government’s support for farming.

“The New Forest & Hampshire County Show is a brilliant showcase of everything British farming contributes to this country – producing the food we eat, caring for our countryside, and supporting thriving rural communities,” he said.

He added that the government was backing English farmers with an £11.8bn farming budget over the life of this Parliament, an upcoming UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement and a 25-year Farming Roadmap.

“British farming has a profitable, productive and sustainable future, and this government is committed to it,” he said.

The reshuffle also sees Emma Hardy promoted to minister of state, while Suffolk Coastal MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter joins Defra as a parliamentary under-secretary of state.

TFA reaction

Her appointment has been welcomed by the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), which said her previous role as chairman of the Labour Rural Research Group would be viewed positively by many rural Labour MPs.

The group had previously criticised the government’s changes to agricultural and business property relief.

TFA chief executive George Dunn said the association looked forward to engaging with the new ministerial team, including new Defra secretary Dame Angela Eagle, to press the needs of tenant farmers.