Steve Reed and Daniel Zeichner, who have held the roles of Defra secretary and farming minister since the current government came to power in July 2024, have been replaced in the reshuffle sparked by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner’s resignation.
Emma Reynolds, elected MP for Wycombe in July 2024, has succeeded Mr Reed as Defra secretary, while veteran Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle replaces Mr Zeichner as a minister at Defra.
Ms Reynolds moves from the role of economic secretary to the Treasury, having previously been parliamentary secretary at both the Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions from July 2024 to January 2025.
She was previously the MP for Wolverhampton North East between 2010 and 2019. Between losing her seat in 2019 and returning to parliament in 2024, she worked as a lobbyist for TheCityUK, representing the interests of the financial sector. Before becoming an MP, she also set up her own lobbying business.
Ms Reynolds said she was ‘delighted’ with her appointment and looked forward to ‘building on the ‘excellent work’ Mr Reed ‘cleaning up our rivers, backing British farming and ensuring nature’s recovery’.
Commenting on X, she revealed that she happened to be going to a pig farm tomorrow with her youngest son, ‘the first of many visits in my new role’. She also attended the Bucks County show last week.
New minister
Dame Angela, elected as MP for Wallasey in July 2024, was previously Minister of State (Minister for Border Security and Asylum) at the Home Office from 8 July 2024 to 6 September 2025.
She was first elected to Parliament in 1992, when she became the first ever Labour Member of Parliament for Wallasey. Under Tony Blair, she served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for environment, transport and the regions; for social security and for home affairs. She also served as Opposition Whip under Tony Blair.
In Gordon Brown’s government she served as exchequer secretary to the Treasury and minister for Pensions and ageing society.
Mr Reed and Mr Zeichner engaged well with the industry while in opposition, but are generally seen to have had a mixed record in government, although Mr Zeichner, in particular, has been supportive on issues like reform of farrowing systems.
Also, commenting on X, Mr Zeichner said: “Very sad to be leaving a job in government I have loved – working with brilliant people at Defra and so many great people keeping our country fed: the farmers, the fishermen, everyone in the food supply chain and in rural areas.”
Industry reaction
NPA Chairman, Rob Mutimer, said: “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Emma Reynolds MP on her appointment as Secretary of State at Defra.
“She joins the department at a time of significant change, and we call on her to work with us to deliver policies that support UK food security and champion our high-end British pig sector.
“The NPA stands ready to support her and the new Minister of State for Food Security, Dame Angela Eagle MP, in any way we can as they get to grips with their new briefs.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “I would like to congratulate Emma on her appointment as Defra Secretary of State. I look forward to working closely with her in the months ahead and hope she uses the role to champion farming, ensure its high production standards are valued and invest in its future with policies that back British farming and deliver for food security.
“I would also like to thank Steve Reed MP for his time in post. Despite not always agreeing, we developed a strong working relationship and his door was always open to the NFU. He recognised the planning system needed significant change to enable investment in the farm infrastructure of the future. I am confident he will be able to support rural growth and farming communities in his new role at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.”
British Meat Processors Association CEO Nick Allen said: “Our one big wish is that progress already made on the key challenges facing our industry is not lost, and that the momentum for change is sustained. There are a number of initiatives currently underway that will bring material benefits to the British meat and livestock industry and shore up the UK’s food security, which we’re keen to see progress.”
“BMPA stands ready to support our new ministers with clear insights into the technical, trade, workforce and sustainability aspects of this complicated part of Britain’s food supply chain.”
Association of Independent Meat Suppliers head of communications Tony Goodger said: “AIMS looks forward to working with both the new Secretary of State at Defra, Emma Reynolds and at Department for Business & Trade Peter Kyle.
“With today’s publication from EFRA, Biosecurity at the border: Britain’s illegal meat crisis, it is essential that both meet with us at the earliest opportunity to ensure that issues such as animal disease and the potential impact to both domestic production and overseas trade are prioritised within their new roles”
CLA President Victoria Vyvyan said: “We offer our warmest congratulations to Emma, who we have known for some time as a champion of the rural cause.
“She will know already of the immense potential of the rural economy to generate growth and create jobs. We will do everything in our power to support her in unlocking that potential.
“This reshuffle offers a profound opportunity to draw a line under a very difficult year for industry-government relations. But to move on, first government must recognise that their current position on inheritance tax is completely untenable and will do nothing but harm to the rural, and national, economy.”