Conservative leader candidate takes DEFRA role
Former Conservative leader candidate Andrea Leadsom was promoted to head up the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Leadsom replaced Liz Truss as environment secretary, while Truss will take over the role as justice secretary following the sacking of Michael Gove.
Leadsom has joined minister of state George Eustice and parliamentary undersecretary of state Rory Stewart in the department.
She has been given responsibility of negotiating subsidies with the EU for British farmers.
National Farmers Union president Meurig Raymond said Leadsom would inherit a big task in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
“We hope that Mrs Leadsom will champion British food and farming. Our industry has a great story to tell and it’s an industry that is optimistic about meeting the challenges ahead,” said Raymond.