Baroness Rock dropped from Defra’s board of directors

Baroness Kate Rock – author of the Rock Review and a strong voice for tenant farmers in Westminster – has been dropped as a non-executive director within Defra by the environment secretary Steve Reed.

Speaking in the House of Lords on Wednesday 11 September, Baroness Rock expressed her “deep disappointment and, frankly, bewilderment” given her willingness to continue to serve.

See also: Rock Review sets out improved support for tenant farmers

“In opposition, Labour were a vocal advocate of tenant farmers and the Rock Review; it sends a worrying message to our vital tenant farming community that my sector expertise is not recognised by Steve Reed and his ministerial team as being a useful asset,” she said.

“I remain, however, resolute in my absolute commitment to our tenant farmers and I promise to continue to champion them and ensure that they have a fair deal from this government.”

Tenant Farmers Association chairman Robert Martin also expressed his disappointment, praising the Baroness for championing the tenanted sector.

“We have been clear with Defra that Kate’s departure from the board must not coincide with any diminution in enthusiasm for implementing the changes that are needed to improve the resilience of the let sector of agriculture as articulated through the recommendations of the Rock Review,” he said.

“The government must reconfirm its commitment to the work of the Farm Tenancy Forum, including the decision to appoint a commissioner for the tenant farming sector, and to take forward the legislative and fiscal recommendations which are yet to be brought into play.”