Stephen Morgan replaces Eagle as Defra farming minister

Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has been appointed as the new farming minister, replacing Dame Angela Eagle following a ministerial reshuffle triggered by changes in the defence and security briefings.

His official title is minister of state for food security and rural affairs at Defra.

The appointment was confirmed by 10 Downing Street on Friday 12 June after Dame Angela was named security minister, jointly serving in the Home Office and Cabinet Office. Her move followed the promotion of Dan Jarvis to defence minister.

See also: Defra minister visits Riverford farm amid organic growth talks

Mr Morgan, who describes himself on his Instagram page as “Pompey born and bred”, said he was delighted to take up the role.

“Being asked by the prime minister to serve our country in this role is an immense privilege,” he said.

“My focus will be clear: driving a green economy, protecting our natural environment and ensuring our rural and coastal communities truly thrive.”

The ministerial brief includes responsibility for food security, farming, fisheries, trade, science and innovation.

However, Mr Morgan arrives in the role without a direct farming background.

His career before Parliament was spent in local government and the voluntary sector, including senior community engagement roles and a period as chief executive of Basingstoke Voluntary Action.

Since entering Parliament in 2017, his ministerial and shadow ministerial experience has focused on education, rail, defence procurement, the armed forces and local government rather than agriculture or rural affairs.

While Mr Morgan has represented a constituency with significant coastal and maritime interests, there is no evidence from his published biography or previous ministerial appointments that he has worked in farming or agriculture professionally.

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) said it looked forward to working closely with Mr Morgan in the interests of the tenanted sector of agriculture.

TFA national chairman Robert Martin said his organisation had already written to the new minister to request an introductory meeting, adding that it “hopes to establish a productive working relationship with him as quickly as possible”.

Frequent changes

His appointment continues a trend of frequent changes in the Defra farming brief. Over the past decade, the post has been held by at least eight ministers: George Eustice, Robert Goodwill, Therese Coffey, Victoria Prentis, Mark Spencer, Daniel Zeichner, Dame Angela, and now Mr Morgan.

Farm leaders and rural stakeholders will be watching closely to see how quickly Mr Morgan adapts to one of the most challenging portfolios in government, with food security, farm support schemes and environmental policy all high on the agenda.

Defence secretary John Healey and armed forces minister Al Carns resigned last week over plans to raise defence spending from 2.6% of GDP to only 2.68% by 2030, below their preferred 3% target. The move forced prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to reshuffle his cabinet.