Following the appointment of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister, the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has congratulated him on his new role and set out what it believes his Government must prioritise for the tenanted sector of agriculture. This blog offers a comprehensive source to all comments made by the TFA.

In a short video message, TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn, welcomed the appointment and looked ahead to working with the new Government.

The TFA has also written to the Prime Minister directly.

Tenant farmers are not a marginal interest

Tenant farmers farm 30% of the agricultural land of England and Wales, producing food, caring for the countryside and sustaining rural communities, without owning the land beneath their feet. The TFA is clear that this sector cannot be treated as an afterthought in the Government’s plans for farming, food security, rural opportunity and environmental renewal.

“Tenant farmers should not be seen as a marginal interest group,” said Mr Dunn. “They are responsible for farming 30% of the agricultural land of the country and work hard everyday in producing food, caring for the countryside and sustaining rural communities without the privilege of owning the land beneath their feet. If the Government is serious about standing with those who too often lack power, security and voice, in addressing farming it must start with the tenanted sector of agriculture.”

Four immediate priorities

The TFA is urging the Government to act on four fronts:

• Longer-term agricultural tenancies. Short agreements are incompatible with the Government’s ambitions for regenerative agriculture, nature recovery, carbon reduction, soil health and resilient food production. As Mr Dunn put it: “A farmer cannot sensibly plan a long-term rotation, build fertility, invest in infrastructure or change a business model if the tenancy horizon is one, two or three years. Warm words about security are not enough.”
• Tenant-proofed farming and environment schemes. The Sustainable Farming Incentive showed what is possible when schemes are designed with tenants in mind, including three-year agreements and reduced dependence on landlord consent. “Public support for land management should empower the active farmer,” said Mr Dunn. “It should not allow landlords to claim money on land they have let to others, nor create incentives to remove land from tenants simply to secure easy payments.”
• Fair compensation for tenant farmers displaced by development. Where a landlord secures planning permission for a more lucrative non-agricultural use and the tenant loses part or all of a holding, the TFA wants to see compensation that reflects the tenant’s real loss. “That means the loss to the business, the home, the family and the rural community,” said Mr Dunn. “Development gain must not be built on the dispossession of those who have farmed land responsibly for years, sometimes generations.”
• A practical timetable for tenancy reform during this Parliament. The TFA has welcomed the Law Commission’s forthcoming work on agricultural tenancy legislation, but is clear that reform must not be delayed while it takes place. “Tenant farmers cannot wait the best part of a decade for change while short tenancies continue, land is removed from agriculture and compensation gaps remain unfilled,” said Mr Dunn.

An open invitation

The TFA has offered to arrange a visit to a tenanted farm during the Prime Minister’s summer listening tour, ahead of Parliament returning in the autumn.

“In rebuilding trust with the farming community, Mr Burnham could start in no better place than with the tenanted sector of agriculture,” said Mr Dunn.

Dame Angela Eagle Appointed DEFRA Secretary of State

Andy Burnham wasted no time in appointing his first Government. Late on Monday evening (20 July 2026) it was announced that Dame Angela Eagle DBE was to become Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, returning to a department where she previously served as Farming Minister.

Reacting to the appointment, Mr Dunn said, “The TFA built a constructive relationship with Angela Eagle when she was Minister of State within DEFRA and we look forward to welcoming her back and working with her in her new Cabinet role. We are pleased that Prime Minister Burnham has appointed someone with experience in the role, enabling us to hit the ground running on the issues of interest to the tenanted sector of agriculture, rather than having to brief in a completely new incumbent.”

The TFA will be seeking an early meeting with the new Secretary of State to press the four priorities set out above.

This blog was prepared by Julia Meadows, TFA Communications and Events Coordinator.

Related articles:

The TFA has issued a full statement, which includes comments from TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn.

The TFA has written to the Prime Minister, welcoming him to his role and setting out areas of priorites for his Government.

Watch George Dunn’s video message

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