The farming industry has paid tribute to agriculture minister Jim Paice, who has been replaced by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath.
Paice, who was informed he had lost his job over the phone on Tuesday while appearing at the Livestock 2012 event in Birmingham, has pledged to continue to serve his constituency as MP despite not being offered another ministerial role.
“Jim had real value as he had been farming all his life and the challenge now is making sure we have a really strong working relationship with the new farming minister,” said NFU president Peter Kendall.
George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association, added: “Jim has been a tremendous force within DEFRA and it will certainly be an extremely sad loss, but we have got to work with the new team.”
Some of Paice’s key achievements since taking the position in May 2012 included his work to improve the performance of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and pushing for the introduction of a Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Despite pledging to continue to work closely with DEFRA and new farming minister David Heath, Paice has admitted he is disappointed with the decision.
“I am disappointed at losing my position as minister of agriculture and food. It was a job close to my heart and throughout nearly two and a half years I tried hard to help the industry to adapt to change and for the food industry to play its part in economic recovery,” explained Paice.
Paice’s replacement, Lib Dem David Heath, one of only a few Liberal Democrat MPs to be promoted in the current reshuffle, has represented the rural constituency of Somerton and Frome since 1997, and has previously served as the Lib Dems' spokesman for agriculture and rural affairs.
In his first statement as minister, Heath has pledged to work out a fairer deal for British farmers. He said: "There is an enormous amount of work to do to ensure a fair deal for rural communities and a fair return for primary producers.
“At the same time we need to protect rural services, grow the economic opportunities in countryside areas, and balance the needs of often fragile environments."
Heath’s appointment follows the exit of secretary of state for food Caroline Spelman, who was replaced by the MP for North Shropshire, Owen Paterson.
Paterson’s appointment has been criticised by Labour’s shadow environmental secretary Mary Creagh, who said it was a move “too far to the right”.
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