New Prime Minister Liz Truss has been urged to work quickly to solve many of the challenges faced by British farmers and growers, and her comments on labour availability have been met with a cautious welcome. However, others are concerned that she oversaw free trade deals with Australia and New Zealand which put UK farmers at a distinct disadvantage.
Ms Truss has said her policies will, “Turbocharge the rural economy by focusing on farmers growing food and cutting the pointless regulation that gets in their way.”
NFU’s president Minette Batters added, commented “I would like to welcome Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister and I look forward to working with her and her government on its priorities for British food and farming.
“British farmers are critically important in providing the nation with a supply of home-grown food and it’s essential that British farming has a vibrant and sustainable future, particularly as it moves into a new domestic agricultural policy and continues to grapple with the rising costs facing all farm businesses.”
As part of her first cabinet reshuffle, long serving Environmental Secretary George Eustice, who had supported Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership competition, has been replaced by Ranil Jayawardena, who was previously Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade. Agriculture Minister Victoria Prentiss, who has moved to the Department of Work and Pensions, has been replaced by former Chief Whip Mark Spencer.
While concerns have been raised about Jayawardena knowledge of food and farming, as well as his voting record on climate change and the environment, Sherwood MP Mark Spencer has a farming background and attended Shuttleworth Agricultural College in Bedfordshire.
Mr Spencer commented on Twitter, “Delighted to be joining the Defra team. Looking forward to supporting food production and the environment and our rural communities.”
New Defra Secretary Mr Jayawardena was born in London and is 36. He said it was a ‘privilege’ to be appointed the Secretary of State for Defra. “From food security and backing British farmers, to water security and growing our rural economy, I know that there is much to do,” he said. “I recently met local farmers with the NFU, to discuss the government’s support for British farming and the export growth ahead.”