Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has appointed veteran Stroud MP David Drew as the new Shadow Farming Minister in a reshuffle of his junior Ministers.
Mr Drew, who regained in his seat in last month’s General Election, will serve under Sue Hayman, who has retained her position as Shadow Defra Secretary.
A vegetarian and former member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Mr 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: “I will take a particularly close interest in the reform of agriculture, partly because of my long-term interest in farming but also because of the nature of the Stroud constituency.”
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.”