Environment Minister Therese Coffey visited the Great Yorkshire Show to meet leaders of the agricultural industry, and insisted the Government is listening to farmers as they go through the biggest transition for decades.

After being asked to back the Buy British campaign she said the Government is keen to support British food - but could not tell people what to eat.

Following Brexit and the phasing out of subsidies of over £2.4bn for farmers, the Department For Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is halfway through the major shake up from paying farmers for land and growing crops to managing the land in more sustainable and eco friendly ways.

Dr Coffey said: “We are listening to farmers and reflecting and making changes that has been my mantra, there are changes that have been made. I would like to think some of the things we have already done are already having an impact and show that we are listening.

“We are in the middle of looking at the sheep sector, the next stage will be on pigs and horticulture as we go into autumn.”

Darlington and Stockton Times: Defra Secretary Therese Coffey meets Show Director Charles Mills

The NFU had called for more backing for the Buy British campaign. In North Yorkshire it has joined forces with the county's Chamber of Commerce to promote the campaign cafes, hotels and restaurants, with appeals to lower taxes, especially VAT.

NFU President Minette Batters has also called for backing for a 50 per cent buy British on food procurement, which has been supported by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. This would mean half the food supplied through public sector organisations such as schools, hospitals and defence establishments should be home grown and sourced in Britain.

But Dr Coffey said there had been legal challenges to the procurement issue and ministers are taking advice to see how they can proceed with that. But she said on tax cuts she could not take up issues which were in the remit of the Chancellor.

“I am always happy to support buy British," she added. "Our food strategy is paying good prices for the food we have, there are approaches we are making with venison and fish. I am not going to tell people what to eat, but there is a lot we can do to support British farming.

“We are in the middle of this transition, we are at the halfway point. We need to get out and discuss what we are doing with farmers, we want them to take it up that is why I am keen to carry on.”