Defra has appointed Robert Goodwill as minister of state for agriculture, fisheries and food to replace George Eustice, who resigned last month over the handling of Brexit.

Minister Goodwill has been the Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby since 2005.

He was previously an MEP and minister of state at the Departments for Transport and for Education.

"Robert has been a farmer (since 1979) of 250 acres of land near Malton, which has been in his family since 1850," his official biography reads.

"He has been the managing director of Mowthorpe Ltd since 1995, which offers environmentally friendly burials in the North Yorkshire countryside," it adds.

Priority

The NFU congratulated Minister Goodwill on his appointment.

“I will be seeking a meeting with Mr Goodwill as a matter of priority to discuss the pressing issues currently facing farmers and growers, in particular the impact ongoing Brexit uncertainty is having on farm businesses and the need for Parliament to reach a deal with the EU, avoiding the devastating impacts of a no-deal Brexit," said NFU president Minette Batters.