Rayner resignation fallout sees Emma Reynolds take environment brief

Emma Reynolds was appointed environment secretary on Friday as Steve Reed was moved to housing following the resignation of Angela Rayner.

Reynolds has been economic secretary to the Treasury since January, and before that was parliamentary secretary at the Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions since being  elected as the MP for Wycombe in July 2024.

She joins Defra at a critical time, and will need to take the lead on the Autumn White Paper that will take policy forward following the Independent Water Commission recommendations.