Steve Reed appointed as new Shadow Defra Secretary

The move comes following the resignation of Jim McMahon who said he taken the opportunity to step down from the shadow cabinet.

Mr Reed took to social media to announce the appointment, saying he was ‘delighted’ to take on the role.

He said: "I will work tirelessly to preserve our precious nature, win a fairer deal for farmers, tackle food price inflation and end the scandal of sewage being dumped in our rivers, lakes and seas.”

Mr Reed also paid tribute to his predecessor for “his excellent work” including “exposing how the Tories have undermined British farming and damaged our waterways with their shameful sewage scandal.”

First elected to Parliament in a by-election in 2012, he was re-elected in the general elections of May 2015, June 2017, and December 2019.