Steve Barclay has become the fifth new environment secretary since the Resources and Waste Strategy was unveiled in 2018.
He was appointed to the role as part of the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle earlier this week he will take over from Thérèse Coffey who resigned from the position.
Mr Barclay moves from his role as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. He replaced Ms Coffey in that role too when she was named as Environment Secretary in October 2022.
The MP for North-East Cambridgeshire has also campaigned against MVV’s plans for an incinerator in Wisbech, saying they are “deeply flawed”. He has argued that “it’s simply not suitable for an incinerator of this size in such a location with the accompanying impact on health, traffic and the environment".
He will now get to work naming his ministers. It is expected that Rebecca Pow will retain her brief as minister with responsibilities for waste, though this is unconfirmed.
Momentum
With many negative headlines on sewage discharges in recent months, Thérèse Coffey’s name was mentioned as soon as the cabinet reshuffle was announced.
However, in recent months the long-awaited publication of Simpler Recycling and more policy clarity around the packaging waste reforms had meant the sector was feeling more optimistic
Ahead of an election next year and further shuffles likely, it is hoped, but perhaps not expected, that he will provide some clarity to the packaging sector with a string of key EPR dates on the horizon.
