Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Redirected from Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Hlist/styles.css" />Script error: No such module "Sidebar". The secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, also referred to as the environment secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.
The office holder works alongside the other Defra ministers. The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs.
Responsibilities
The secretary of state has two main responsibilities at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to:
- bear overall responsibility for all departmental issues.
- lobby for the United Kingdom in other international negotiations on sustainable development and climate change.
List of environment secretaries
Secretaries of state for the environment (1970–1997) | ||||||||
| Secretary of State[1] | Term of office | Party | Ministry | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:No image.svg | Peter Walker MP for WorcesterScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
15 OctoberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1970 |
5 NovemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1972 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | Heath | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Geoffrey Rippon (1970).jpg | Geoffrey Rippon MP for HexhamScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
5 NovemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1972 |
4 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1974 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Charles-Anthony-Raven-Crosland (cropped).jpg | Anthony Crosland MP for Great GrimsbyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
5 MarchScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1974 |
8 AprilScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1976 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Labour | Wilson (III & IV)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:No image.svg | Peter Shore MP for Stepney and PoplarScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
8 AprilScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1976 |
4 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1979 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Labour | Callaghan | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Meeting of the Kangaroo group in December 1988 with British MP Michael HESELTINE 2 (cropped).jpg | Michael Heseltine MP for HenleyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
5 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1979 |
6 JanuaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1983 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | Thatcher I | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Official portrait of Lord King of Bridgwater crop 2.jpg | Tom King MP for BridgwaterScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
6 JanuaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1983 |
11 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1983 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:No image.svg | Patrick Jenkin MP for Wanstead and WoodfordScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
11 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1983 |
2 SeptemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1985 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | Thatcher II | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Official portrait of Lord Baker of Dorking 2020 crop 2.jpg | Kenneth Baker MP for Mole ValleyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
2 SeptemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1985 |
21 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1986 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:No image.svg | Nicholas Ridley MP for Cirencester and TewkesburyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
21 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1986 |
24 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1989 |
rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
| Thatcher III | ||||||||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Lord PLUMB - EP President meets with UK Minister Chris PATTEN at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (cropped).jpg | Chris Patten MP for BathScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
24 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1989 |
28 NovemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1990 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Meeting of the Kangaroo group in December 1988 with British MP Michael HESELTINE (cropped).jpg | Michael Heseltine MP for HenleyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
28 NovemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1990 |
11 AprilScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1992 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | Major I | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Michael Howard as Home Secretary.jpg | Michael Howard MP for Folkestone and HytheScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
11 AprilScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1992 |
27 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1993 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | Major II | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:John GUMMER 1991.jpg | John Gummer MP for Suffolk CoastalScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
27 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1993 |
2 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1997 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
Secretaries of state for the environment, transport and the regions (1997–2001) | ||||||||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:John Prescott official portrait (cropped).jpg | John Prescott[2] MP for Kingston upon Hull EastScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
2 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 1997 |
8 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2001 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Labour | Blair I | |
Secretaries of state for environment, food and rural affairs (2001–present) | ||||||||
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Official portrait of Margaret Beckett as Environment Secretary (cropped).jpg | Margaret Beckett[3] MP for Derby SouthScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
8 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2001 |
5 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2006 |
rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Labour | Blair II | |
| Blair III | ||||||||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:David Miliband 11 April 2007.JPG | David Miliband[4] MP for South ShieldsScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
5 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2006 |
28 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2007 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Labour | ||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:HilaryBennMPPortrait.jpg | Hilary Benn[5] MP for Leeds CentralScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
28 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2007 |
11 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2010 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Labour | Brown | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Caroline Spelman Official.jpg | Caroline Spelman[6] MP for MeridenScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
12 MayScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2010 |
4 SeptemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2012 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | Cameron–Clegg (Con.–L.D.)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Owen-Paterson.jpg | Owen Paterson[7] MP for North ShropshireScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
4 SeptemberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2012 |
14 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2014 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Elizabeth truss2014.jpg | Liz Truss[8] MP for South West NorfolkScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
15 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2014 |
14 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2016 |
rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
| Cameron II | ||||||||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Andrea Leadsom 2017.jpg | Andrea Leadsom[9] MP for South NorthamptonshireScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
14 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2016 |
11 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2017 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | May I | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Official portrait of Michael Gove crop 2.jpg | Michael Gove[10] MP for Surrey HeathScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
11 JuneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2017 |
24 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2019 |
style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | May II | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color; border:none" | | File:Theresa Villiers Official Portrait.jpg | Theresa Villiers[11] MP for Chipping BarnetScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
24 JulyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2019 |
13 FebruaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2020 |
rowspan=2 style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | Johnson I | |
| style="background-color:Template:Party color; border:none" |Template:Zwsp | Johnson II | |||||||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Official portrait of George Eustice MP crop 2.jpg | George Eustice MP for Camborne and RedruthScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
13 FebruaryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2020 |
6 September 2022 | style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Ranil Jayawardena official portrait (cropped).jpg | Ranil Jayawardena MP for North East HampshireScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
6 September 2022 | 25 October 2022 | style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | Truss | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Thérèse Coffey Official Cabinet Portrait, October 2022 (cropped).jpg | Thérèse Coffey MP for Suffolk CoastalScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
25 October 2022 | 13 November 2023 | style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | Sunak | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Steve Barclay Official Cabinet Portrait, November 2023 (cropped).jpg | Steve Barclay MP for North East CambridgeshireScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
13 November 2023 | 5 July 2024 | style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Conservative | ||
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Steve Reed Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 4.jpg | Steve Reed MP for Streatham and Croydon NorthScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
5 July 2024 | 5 September 2025 | style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Labour | Starmer | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | File:Official portrait of Emma Reynolds MP crop 2, 2024.jpg | Emma Reynolds MP for WycombeScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
5 September 2025 | Incumbent | style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | Labour | ||
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Timeline of environment secretaries
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</timeline>
References
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