Opinion: Competence and delivery more important than gender
Left to right: Emma Hardy, Angela Eagle, Emma Reynolds, Baroness Hayman and Mary Creagh © Sam Ross/Defra What to make of the new Defra line-up? The most striking aspect is that the entire ministerial team is now made up of women – not just the top two roles of Defra secretary and farming minister, but the entire “squad” of five.
For die-hard traditionalists living in a bygone era, this revelation may come as a bit of a shock. For ardent feminists, it may be viewed as a moment of post-patriarchal triumph.
But for the vast majority of right-thinking people, the gender, sexuality and/or creed of the new Defra incumbents is an irrelevance.
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What really matters is competence and delivery, and on that score the jury is still out.
The initial reaction from farmer and landowner bodies was, of course, one of politeness.
But there are real concerns about the lack of farming experience in the new top team.
Yes, Emma Reynolds, the new Defra secretary, is reported to have visited some farms in her short time as MP for Wycombe.
Additionally, she participated in a comprehensive “rural business tour” run by the Country Land and Business Association.
But a search of parliamentary records reveals no mentions of “farmer” or “farmers” in her spoken contributions, written questions, or Early Day Motions.
Having previously served as MP for Wolverhampton North East, Ms Reynolds’ most recent role was economic secretary to the Treasury.
The optimistic view is that she at least knows how the money merchants of government operate.
Could this possibly help in farming’s battle to secure a bigger budget, or even a government U-turn on inheritance tax (IHT)? It seems unlikely.
The more realistic view is that, coming from the department that devised the IHT raid, she will already be invested in it.
And as an MP on an upward trajectory, she will be unwilling to rock the boat.
The fact that she made no mention of IHT in her first speech at this week’s NFU Back British Farming Day breakfast sends its own message.
Perhaps Angela Eagle, the new Defra farming minister, will be more versed in matters agricultural?
She is undoubtedly a “big hitter” within the Labour Party, which could be useful. Regrettably, and by her own admission, she knows little about farming, while a quick search on Hansard finds she has mentioned “farming” only three times since she was elected in 1992.
This lack of farming advocacy at Defra smacks of an indifference towards agriculture by the residing government – as exemplified by the unceremonious way in which the previous farming minister, Daniel Zeichner, was dumped last weekend despite the experience he had built up on the shadow Defra team and in office.
The new team will be on a very steep learning curve and the issues are stacking up.
As well as IHT, big questions remain about the future of Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive, while concerns mount over disease threats, leaky borders, sliding profitability, falling output, rural crime – the list goes on.
The one thing that can be said of the new incumbents at Defra is their appointment provides an opportunity for a reset.
The relationship with Messrs Reed and Zeichner was growing stale. The hope is their replacements are more inclined to listen, learn and engage.