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Steve Barclay named new Defra secretary

Steve Barclay named new Defra secretary
Steve Barclay (Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville)

Former health secretary Steve Barclay has been appointed secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, prime minister Rishi Sunak's office said on Monday, as part of a reshuffle of his top team.

He replaces Therese Coffey who resigned on Monday as Defra secretary.


"I consider it is now the right time to step back from government," Coffey said in a letter to Sunak which was published by his office.

Coffey has held several ministerial jobs including health secretaryr and work and pensions secretary, and also served as deputy prime minister under Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss.

In a letter responding to Coffey, Sunak thanked her for "dedicated service".

"You have driven work across government to support the rural economy and taken measures to protect food production here at home," Sunak said.

Sunak reshuffled his ministerial team on Monday, including bringing back former leader David Cameron as foreign secretary and firing home secretary Suella Braverman in a bid to win over moderate voters.

Here is the latest list of those who attend cabinet meetings:

POSITIONMINISTER
Foreign SecretaryDavid CameronReplaces James Cleverly
Home SecretaryJames CleverlyReplaces Suella Braverman
Conservative Party Chairman and minister without portfolioRichard HoldenReplaces Greg Hands
Chief Secretary to the TreasuryLaura TrottReplaces John Glen
Environment SecretarySteve BarclayReplaces Therese Coffey
Health SecretaryVictoria AtkinsReplaces Steve Barclay
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet OfficeJohn GlenReplaces Jeremy Quin
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)Esther McVeyNew Position
Attorney GeneralVictoria PrentisNo Change
Business and Trade SecretaryKemi BadenochNo Change
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy HuntNo Change
Defence SecretaryGrant ShappsNo Change
Deputy Prime MinisterOliver DowdenNo Change
Culture, Media and Sport SecretaryLucy FrazerNo Change
Education SecretaryGillian KeeganNo Change
Energy Security and Net Zero SecretaryClaire CoutinhoNo Change
Justice SecretaryAlex ChalkNo Change
Leader of the House of CommonsPenny MordauntNo Change
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities SecretaryMichael GoveNo Change
Minister for DevelopmentAndrew MitchellNo Change
Minister for EqualitiesKemi BadenochNo Change
Minister for ImmigrationRobert JenrickNo Change
Minister for SecurityTom TugendhatNo Change
Minister for Veterans' AffairsJohnny MercerNo Change
Science, Innovation and Technology SecretaryMichelle DonelanNo Change
Secretary of State for Northern IrelandChris Heaton-HarrisNo Change
Secretary of State for ScotlandAlister JackNo Change
Secretary of State for WalesDavid DaviesNo Change
Transport SecretaryMark HarperNo Change
Work and Pensions SecretaryMel StrideNo Change

(Reuters)