Fresh Thinking at DEFRA: Why Emma Reynolds’ Appointment is a Chance to Cut Red Tape

We welcome Emma Reynolds MP as Secretary of State for DEFRA. The department is crying out for her energy and fresh thinking. Only six months ago, as City Minister, she said: ‘We feel like we have regulated ourselves into zero risk - and that is bad for consumers as well as for firms.’ That kind of plain-speaking common sense will have upland farmers and gamekeepers cheering.

Natural England, too often the Ministry of No, should take note. The first step must be a full consultation on why countryside regulation has become self-defeating, creating more jobs for bureaucrats while piling costs onto those who actually make a living from the land. In the meantime, there must be a freeze on any new bureaucracy or regulatory changes until that review is complete.

It needs fixing, and it needs fixing fast. This is a colossal opportunity to cut through the tangle of red tape and put the countryside back on the front foot.

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