Defra Secretary admits subsidy payment ‘errors’

THE new Environment Secretary has admitted to MPs that “mistakes were made” over subsidy payments to farmers this year.

- REBECCA SPEARE-COLE

Emma Reynolds, who replaced Steve Reed during September's Cabinet reshuffle, was quizzed by the Commons Environment Select Committee (Efra) this week about her vision for agriculture after the Government faced a fierce and ongoing backlash from farmers.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ decision to introduce inheritance tax for agricultural properties and businesses worth more than £1m last year became a political flashpoint for an industry already grappling with a faster phaseout of EU-era subsidies in favour of environmental payments, as well as dwindling margins and climate change impacts.