The TFA has reacted to the news that Sir Keir Starmer had resigned as UK Prime Minister, as deeply concerning. This follows pressure from his parliamentary party following Andy Burnham’s decisive by-election victory in Makerfield on 18 June.
The news has come at a time when the agricultural industry needs stability and long-term Government commitment more than ever and the continued disruption to agricultural policy is of deep concern.
The resignation marks another significant moment of political churn for a sector that has now seen eight Farming Ministers and 10 DEFRA Secretaries of State in the last decade alone. For an industry that operates on generational timescales, the TFA warns that repeated resets at the top of Government have real and lasting consequences.
TFA National Chair, Robert Martin, said:
“While Westminster works in news cycles, farming works in generations and that gap is costing the agricultural industry dear. Every change of administration resets the clock and our industry simply cannot afford that.”
In the two years since his appointment, Sir Keir Starmer’s administration promised the industry a 25-year Farming Roadmap. Frustratingly, we still wait. In the meantime, domestic food security is being quietly eroded while productive farmland disappears to development and renewable energy schemes. Despite sustained lobbying from the TFA, APR reform, the single change most likely to transform the tenanted sector, has not happened. Landlords will not offer longer tenancies without the right fiscal framework. The tenanted sector farms nearly a third of agricultural land in England and Wales. It cannot be an afterthought.”
Robert Martin added: “Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, the opportunity was there. The parliamentary majority was there. The change was not.”
What the TFA is Doing Next
The TFA will be watching closely to developments within Westminster and will write to the incoming Prime Minister once appointed to set out the priorities that the tenanted sector requires urgent action on and looks forward to engaging constructively with the new administration from the outset. In the meantime, the TFA will engage with senior DEFRA officials to ensure that there is no delay to farm schemes due to launch over the summer.
This news article was written by Julia Meadows, TFA Communications and Events Coordinator on 17 June 2026.
Associated Reading:
TFA Blog #352 – What are We to Expect in the DEFRA 25-Year Farming Roadmap
TFA News article – DEFRA Looks Long-term for Farming and Land Use in England (April March 2026)
The Rock Review (Published 13 Oct 22): Working Together for a Thriving Agricultural Tenanted Sector
Farm Profitability Review by Baroness Batters
Further Resources from the TFA:
TFA members can get expert one-to-one advice and guidance, by calling TFA head office on 0118 930 6130.
- Find out about TFA membership benefits and rewards
- Browse our Blog archive for the latest news, including farming policy updates
- Explore upcoming TFA events, including webinars, shows and regional meetings
