Countryside groups respond to new Defra leadership

Countryside organisations have responded cautiously to major leadership changes at Defra, with some seeing the appointments of Emma Reynolds and Dame Angela Eagle as a chance to reset relations with the Government after a difficult period.

Mrs Reynolds was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 5 September, replacing Steve Reed who moved to housing secretary. Dame Angela was appointed Minister of State the following day, taking over from Daniel Zeichner who was removed from his post.

The rapid reshuffle, triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation over underpaid stamp duty, has brought the countryside its tenth environment secretary in a decade – a level of instability that concerns some industry leaders.

Cautious optimism from countryside groups

Yet there are signs of optimism. The Moorland Association has seized on Mrs Reynolds’ track record on deregulation, particularly her February 2025 comment as Economic Secretary that “we feel like we have regulated ourselves into zero risk”.

Chief executive Andrew Gilruth said this “plain-speaking common sense will have upland farmers and gamekeepers cheering”, as he called for sweeping reforms including a consultation on countryside regulation and a freeze on new bureaucracy.

This appetite for regulatory reform appears to resonate across the sector. Christopher Graffius, BASC executive director of communications and public affairs, struck a more cautious note: “While we don’t yet know the precise responsibilities of the new Defra ministers, we look forward to working with them for the benefit of shooting and conservation.”

In a similar vein, the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation emphasised its readiness to “contribute knowledge and experience built over generations”, adding that it is “keen to ensure that future policy reflects both scientific evidence and the practical realities of managing the English countryside”.

Policy and stability questions remain

However, the appointments come with strings attached for some. Victoria Vyvyan, CLA president, described Mrs Reynolds as “a champion of the rural cause” but warned that progress required the Government to recognise “their current position on inheritance tax is completely untenable”.

The challenge facing the new ministers is clear from the industry’s mixed messaging: enthusiasm for deregulation balanced against wariness over policy direction and ongoing ministerial instability. As Nick von Westenholz, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust chief executive, noted, having a tenth Defra secretary in a decade is “not at all ideal” for long-term policy certainty.

But some organisations are already positioning themselves for influence. Louisa Clutterbuck, Eat Wild chief executive, confirmed her organisation had contacted both ministers about expanding wild meat consumption across government sectors, a sign that industry groups see opportunity amid the upheaval.

Did you like this article? Read more news from ShootingUK, or subscribe to Shooting Times & Country magazine.