Apart from Mr Bradshaw, Defra has a new look team with a new Secretary of State, David Miliband, a new minister and two new under secretaries or junior ministers. A full list of Defra ministerial and junior ministerial duties is expected early this week.
The full line up at the department is:
- Secretary of State: Rt Hon David Milliband
- Minister of State: Ian Pearson MP
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Commons): Ben Bradshaw, MP
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Commons): Barry Gardiner MP
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Lords): Baroness Ashton of Upholland
Mr Miliband will bring an energetic and sharp approach to the environment job which is seen by some commentators as a move by the Prime Minister to fend off efforts by Conservative leader David Cameron to steal a march on the issue of global warming.
” It is particularly humbling to take on the challenge of climate change.“
– Environment Secretary, David MilibandThe new secretary of state is also seen as a highly-talented politician by some commentators and has been tipped to be a future leader of the Labour Party. He is also the first Secretary of State to maintain a departmental blog
Commenting on his new portfolio, Mr Miliband said:
“I am very excited to be leading a department whose agenda touches everyone’s life – from the local environment in urban and rural areas, from the farm to the consumer, to the future of the planet.
“It is particularly humbling to take on the challenge of climate change, the greatest of global threats. There are no quick answers so it will be through our actions over years that we show our resolve and effectiveness. That is what I intend to do.”
David Miliband entered the Cabinet as minister of communities and local government in May 2005, supporting the Deputy Prime Minister on housing, planning, regeneration and local government. He was previously appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office in December 2004 and Minister of State for Schools in June 2002. He has been Member of Parliament for South Shields since June 2001.
Elliot Morley
One surprise was the departure of minister Elliot Morley, a former recycling junior minister, who resigned from Defra last Friday as Prime Minister Tony Blair reshuffled his government.
Mr Morley was popular within the environment sector and in the waste arena had tackled a range of issues, particularly the avoidance of a hazardous waste crisis.
Ian Pearson
Mr Morley has been replaced as the minister within Defra by Ian Pearson, MP for Dudley South in the West Midlands.
Mr Pearson, 47, says he takes “a deep interest in industry, treasury and regional policy issues” but does not mention the environment in his biography.
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He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Paymaster General at HM Treasury from 1997-98 and served on the Treasury Select Committee as an opposition back bencher before the 1997 General Election. He has worked for a large accountancy practice, a national urban charity and a firm of strategic policy consultants.
Barry Gardiner
Barry Gardiner, a new junior minister, was previously with the Department of Trade and Industry.
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