Kemi Badenoch mocks Bucks MP Emma Reynolds during Aylesbury Vale visit

Speaking at Fleet Marston Farm in Aylesbury, Ms Badenoch said Ms Reynolds, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, should do “work experience” on a farm, accusing her of being out of touch with the realities facing British agriculture.

The Conservative leader said that the Government was making it difficult for farmers to operate and urged ministers to start paying attention.

Ms Badenoch also accused Labour of waging a war on the countryside ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget.

Dozens of farmers and food producers were invited to the “emergency summit”, where the Conservative Party aimed to gather a list of measures to hand to the Government that will help the farming industry.

Among the proposals is abolishing inheritance tax (IHT) on the sector, a move supporters say would prevent cash-poor, asset-rich farmers from being forced to sell land to meet tax bills.

Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins joined Ms Badenoch at the event, alongside several Conservative MPs.

Ms Badenoch said: “Once they stop farming, they stop farming. That’s why this is an emergency farming summit. Too many times, governments of all colours have tried to fix everything by creating more rules. What we need now is more common sense.”

In response, a Defra spokesperson told the LDRS: “Farmers are stewards for our nation’s land and for our food security. Farming also plays a central role in our mission to kickstart economic growth.

“That is why we are backing them through new technology, streamlined regulation and our nature-friendly farming schemes that are helping farmers produce food for the nation.

“Our reforms to Agricultural and Business Property Relief are vital to fix the public services we all rely on.”

The department said the reforms to agricultural and business property relief are vital to fixing public services.