Andrea Leadsom has been named as the new secretary of state for Defra, replacing Liz Truss.
Truss was one of the first movers in a dramatic day in Downing Street as Prime Minister Theresa May shaped her first cabinet. Truss, who ran Defra for two years from July 2014, has become the new justice secretary.
Pro-Brexit campaigner Leadsom was not widely known until she made headlines with what was regarded as a strong performance in the build-up to the referendum. She then shot to prominence and emerged as the leading candidate to rival May for the top job, before dropping out of the race earlier this week.
The Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire previously served as minister for energy at the Department of Energy & Climate Change, and prior to that was economic secretary to the treasury. Prior to entering Parliament in 2010, she worked in a variety of roles in the financial sector.
She takes on the department with a full inbox of issues, with agriculture and food production one of the industries most affected by the decision to quit the EU. Access to labour, replacement of subsidies and chemical regulation will all be issues producers will be calling on her to address.
Remain advocate Truss, the Conservative MP for South West Norfolk, was largely well-received during her time at Defra, and most recently was a passionate supporter of increasing British exports to global markets.
Upon hearing of her switch to the Ministry of Justice, Truss tweeted: 'Sad to be leaving Defra after two fantastic years. Great team and loved working with farmers, food producers and environmental groups.'
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