A former chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs , Mark Spencer MP, has been appointed as the Farming Minister at Defra, replacing Victoria Prentis who was in the role for over two years.

The Sherwood MP was chairman of the YFs from 1999 to 2000 and hails from a farm in the constituency he represents. Before being elected to parliament, Mr Spencer studied at Shuttleworth Agricultural College in Bedfordshire, then went on to join the family farm business.

A former dairy farm, the Spencer business diversified into growing potatoes and vegetables and producing free-range eggs, beef and lamb, and employs around 50 local people. Mr Spencer was also a trustee of The Royal Agricultural Society of England and, for three years, the honorary show director of the Royal Show and a fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society.

He became an MP in 2010, and has served on the Environmental Audit Committee and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

He formerly served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to then-Defra Secretary Liz Truss, and was appointed Assistant Government Whip in 2016, before becoming a full government whip in 2017 then Chief Whip in 2019.

Posting on twitter, Mr Spencer he said he was 'looking forward to supporting food production and the environment and our rural communities'.

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Ms Prentis, who was in the role since February 2020, has been moved to a Ministerial role at the Department of Work and Pensions.

It comes after Ranil Jayawardena was appointed as the new Defra Secretary earlier this week, following a reshuffle by Prime Minister Truss that moved George Eustice out of the role.

Responding to his new role, Mr Jayawardena said it was a 'privilege' to be appointed the Secretary of State for Defra.

"From food security and backing British farmers, to water security and growing our rural economy, I know that there is much to do," he said, adding that it was also important to recognise where food came from.

"I recently met local farmers with the NFU, to discuss the government’s support for British farming and the export growth ahead."