Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has appointed veteran Stroud MP David Drew as the new shadow farming minister in a reshuffle of his junior ministers.
Drew, who retained in his seat in last month’s General Election, will serve under Sue Hayman, who has kept her position as Shadow Defra Secretary.
A vegetarian and former member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Drew has always had a strong political interest in countryside and farming issues. He has, for example, been a vociferous opponent of badger culling and fox hunting over the years.
He said it was an “unexpected elevation’. “I am now doing a job I have always wanted to do but never thought it would come round to me,” he said.
“It is a big time to be taking on this role as we are re-writing agricultural policy due to Brexit so we will have to see what we can do.”