Shock shake-up sees farm minister exit

Mr Paice, along with Defra secretary Caroline Spelman, was removed from his post and replaced by Liberal Democrat David Heath. Tory Owen Paterson takes the top job at Defra.

The sacking was one of the shocks of the reshuffle, particularly given the ongoing negotiations over reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and Bovine tB control.

However, the disappointment will have been tempered by the fact Mr Paice is to receive a knighthood in recognition of his years of frontline political service.

Following the announcement, Mr Paice said: “Obviously, I am disappointed at losing my position as Minister of Agriculture and Food, it was a job close to my heart and throughout nearly two and a half years I tried hard to help the industry to adapt to change and for the food industry to play its part in economic recovery.

“After 23 years’ continuous service on the Conservative front bench it will be a great change to move to back benches. Nevertheless, I am privileged to have been able to serve and I shall now devote my time to my constituency and with my family. As I have said repeatedly to farmers change should be seen as an opportunity – that applies to me now.”

The new Defra team will now come under pressure to deliver on the current challenges facing the farming sector. The CLA’s North regional director Dorothy Fairburn said the new Defra secretary’s first priority needs to ensure a fair deal for the region’s farmers in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) negotiations.

She said: “We are delighted the Prime Minister, in his reshuffle, has appointed someone of Owen Paterson’s undoubted qualities to be the new Environment Secretary and hope that he wastes no time in grasping the nettle on the key issues affecting farmers and landowners in the North.

“As MP for North Shropshire and former Agriculture Spokesman from 2003-5, Mr Paterson will understand the Defra brief very well. Now the CLA would like to see him vigorously implement the good policy work started under his predecessor, and present a bold vision for our industry in Defra’s forthcoming Rural Statement.”

Her comments were echoed by Peter Kendall of the National Farmers Union who said: “Demand for food globally will increase and there is much we can do to ensure a secure domestic supply of top quality food. To this end, the government must take a coherent approach to food and farming policy, and I am confident that Mr Paterson will prove a thoughtful and passionate advocate within government.”

Both organisations had praise for the outgoing Defra team with Ms Fairburn describing Ms Spelman as “a steady hand at the tiller of Defra”.

She said she had “made the right decision in allowing a badger cull to combat bovine tB. Her door has been open to the CLA.”

[email protected]