Eustice appointment at Defra welcomed
Countryside groups have welcomed the recent changes to the Cabinet.
In particular, the appointment of George Eustice as Secretary of State for the Environment has been seen as a positive move by shooting organisations. Mr Eustice replaced Theresa Villiers in the February reshuffle announced by the Prime Minister.
Mr Eustice, the MP for Camborne and Redruth in Cornwall, comes from a farming family and was Minister of State for Agriculture from May 2015. He has also been an under secretary in Defra and served on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee. His appointment comes at a time when the countryside and country pursuits are facing a number of pressing issues, and that was before the unquantifiable toll that coronavirus will undoubtedly take on rural businesses.
Aside from the latter, which overshadows everything else, probably the most pressing issue is that of general licences in England. These have been extended until the end of July but with regular challenges by Wild Justice as to their legality, what form the new licences from 1 August will take will be keenly anticipated. It is unlikely that Wild Justice will let its challenge rest.
Christopher Graffius, BASC’s director of public affairs, said that Mr Eustice’s appointment “means we have a real countryman at the helm and this can only be of benefit to conservation and rural affairs”. The appointments of Rishi Sunak, the MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire, as the new Chancellor, who has spoken in favour of grouse shooting, and Victoria Prentis, the MP for Banbury, Oxfordshire, as under secretary at Defra, were also welcomed.