New DEFRA Secretary

Andrea Leadsom is the new DEFRA Secretary.  The Prime Minister, Teresa May has appointed the former Energy Secretary, and her rival in the Conservative Leadership race, to replace Liz Truss, who has taken over as Justice Secretary.  Mrs Leadsom, whilst MP for the rural South Northamptonshire seat, does not have a great deal of experience of farming matters – although few incoming DEFRA Secretaries do. 

It seems part of a wider strategy from Mrs May to put key ‘Brexiteers’ in charge of Departments that will be heavily involved in the exit negotiations (e.g. Boris Johnson at the Foreign Office, Liam Fox at International Trade and David Davies at the Department for Leaving the EU).  The cynical might suggest that, if compromises have to be made, then the Prime Minister is then insulated from the fallout.  Angela Leadsom’s views on future agricultural policy are not clear.  But she is to the right of the party, and might be expected to favour the running-down of direct support and a fairly free-market approach to trade.

The junior Ministerial positions in DEFRA have not yet been confirmed.