Jim McMahon steps down as shadow Defra secretary

Jim McMahon has stepped down from his role as shadow Defra secretary ahead of Labour leader Keir Starmer’s much-anticipated reshuffle of his shadow cabinet.

Mr McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton, confirmed on Monday 4 September that he had removed himself from the position.

See also: Shadow minister hints Labour government will extend farm budget

“As the reshuffle begins, I have written to Keir to take the opportunity to step down from the shadow cabinet,” he said in a post on X.

“I have been and remain a firm supporter of Keir and the project we have built to offer Britain an electable Labour government after 13 years under the Conservatives.”

MP for Croydon North Steve Reed was announced as his successor. Mr Reed was previously shadow justice secretary.

Steve Reed MP @SteveReedMP has been appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. pic.twitter.com/yGzycHrKPO

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) September 4, 2023

In his resignation letter, Mr McMahon said it had been a “very difficult decision” to stand aside, but he referenced a number of personal challenges, including coming back from a serious illness.

Mr McMahon said he had been proud of the work he and Labour had done since his appointment as shadow Defra secretary in November 2021.

This included Labour’s work on food security and exposing the “scandal” under the Conservative government whereby millions of tonnes of untreated sewage were being dumped into the country’s waterways.

Mr McMahon said he would do everything he could to support Sir Keir and Labour’s bid to win power at the forthcoming general election, which must be held before January 2025.

There is also no confirmation yet whether the Labour MP for Cambridge, Daniel Zeichner, has kept his role as shadow Defra farming minister.

This story will be updated throughout the day.