New Defra secretary appointed after Rayner quits in tax row

A new Defra secretary wasn appointed this afternoon (5 September), in a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle triggered by the resignation of the former deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner.

Emma Reynolds has succeeded Steve Reed, who has himself taken over the housing brief vacated by Ms Rayner, who quit earlier in the day.

Earlier this week, she had previously referred herself to the government’s ethics advisor after admitting paying insufficient stamp duty on a flat she purchased in Sussex.

First role

Ms Reynolds has been promoted to the cabinet for the first time, having previously served in junior ministerial roles at the Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Elected as the MP for Wycombe at last year’s general election, she previously represented Wolverhampton North East between 2010 and 2019.

Among her most immediate priorities will be to oversee the development of a new strategy for eradicating bTB in England, following yesterday’s publication of a new evidence review led by Professor Sir Charles Godfray.

Step change

It called for a “step change” in focus on the disease, warning there was currently only “a small chance” of the target to make England bTB-free by 2038 being achieved.

The department has indicated it will publish its plans early in the new year, though pro and anti-cull groups have already voiced concerns about the implications of the review.