MP for North East Cambridgeshire Steve Barclay has been announced as the new Defra Secretary of State, following Thérèse Coffey’s resignation after just over 12 months in the role.

He enters the role after previously serving as Health Secretary since October 25, 2022. He was first elected as MP for North East Cambridgeshire in May 2010 and is the 10th Defra Secretary since that year.

The appointment was made as part of the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle after the sacking of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Barclay said he would be working to “back British farming and fishing, champion rural communities and protect the environment”.

“As an MP for a rural area, I know how important these issues are to many people up and down our country,” he added.