Mr Barclay moves from his role as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. He replaced Ms Coffey in that role too, when she was named as Environment Secretary in October 2022.
Mr Barclay becomes the fifth Secretary of State for the Environment in four years after Ms Coffey’s resignation earlier (see letsrecycle.com story).
In terms of his environmental credentials, he voted against a motion in 2019 calling on the Government “to rebuild the economy so that it works in the interest of the many, not just handing out rewards to those at the top” and bring forward “a green industrial revolution to decarbonise the economy and boost economic growth”.
In 2021, he voted to exempt national security and defence as well as taxation and spending from those policy areas where ministers would be required to have due regard to environmental policy.
The MP for North East Cambridgeshire has also campaigned against MVV’s plans for an incinerator in Wisbech, saying they are “deeply flawed”. He has argued that “it’s simply not suitable for an incinerator of this size in such a location with the accompanying impact on health, traffic and the environment”.
The Rt Hon @SteveBarclay MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs @DefraGovUK pic.twitter.com/ajqJ8CHIaL
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) November 13, 2023
Personal life
Mr Barclay qualified as a solicitor in 1998. He worked as an insurance company lawyer for Axa Insurance, as a regulator for the Financial Services Authority, and as Director of Regulatory Affairs and then Head of Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions at Barclays Retail Bank.
He is married and has 2 children.
The Industry Council welcomes the Rt Hon @SteveBarclay as Secretary of State @DefraGovUK
Big agenda on packaging reforms that manufacturers, brands & retailers wish to be well-designed & well-timed.
INCPEN stands ready to assist on design & delivery.
In the meantime, Welcome! https://t.co/GdDzOc1NLq
— INCPEN (@INCPEN) November 13, 2023
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