Jim Paice “disappointed” to be sacked as farming minister
Paice lost his job as part of the government’s reshuffle, while attending the Livestock 2012 event in Birmingham earlier this month.
The 63-year old Paice said: “Obviously I am disappointed at losing my position as minister of agriculture and food, it was a job close to my heart. I tried hard to help the industry to adapt to change for the food industry to play its part in the economic recovery.”
The conservative MP for South East Cambridgeshire was one of the oldest ministers in government having spent 23 years on the conservative frontbench, including many years as shadow farming minister.
Praises
He had been food and farming minister for the past two-and-a-half years and left many members of the farming industry singing his praises.
Peter Kendall, president of the National Farming Union, said Paice had a lifetime immersed in the industry and brought “real credibility to the post.”
George Dunn, chief executive of Tenants Farmers Association, described Paice as a “tremendous force within DEFRA” and that he would be a “sad loss.”
Paice will receive a knighthood in the New Year’s honours list.
For more on Paice’s knighthood, click here.
For food industry reaction to the reshuffle, click here.
To watch Paice’s exclusive interview with FoodManufacture.co.uk at Foodex earlier this year, click here.
