Farming and hospitality leaders threw down the gauntlet to the Government at the Great Yorkshire Show calling for commitments to buy British and to tax cuts.

They want to see them committing to 50 per cent of public spending on food and drink through procurement to be British and potential cuts in VAT to 15 per cent or less.

The NFU has joined forces with the hospitality sector through the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce to press for more homegrown produce on our plates not only at home but in restaurants, cafes and hotels. While campaigns such as the red tractor and British labelling is popular in shops and supermarkets, the requirements are not the same for hospitality which is also due to 20 per cent VAT.

NFU President Minette Batters said there has to be a self-sufficiency target, and procurement is one of the main areas where the government can help. Over £2.5 billion is spent on food procurement in areas such as schools, hospitals and defence establishments, much of it imported.

Mrs Batters said: “The government has to set a self-sufficiency target, it is a national priority. If we don’t have a target for food production there will be problems. Sustainability is the licence to trade. Hospitality in the UK covers 50 per cent of the food market with out-of-home hospitality.

“We need to get that connection between farming and restaurant tables and retail shelves. Labelling in this market means nothing. How do we get more British food and drink into the hospitality sector? We have to stay committed to our investment if we are going to have continuity of supply.

“Everything is about price, but there have to be opportunities for everyone.

“We have had six years of turmoil the next election matters and farmers want clarity and certainty. Rishi Sunak made some important commitments that 50 per cent of procurement should be British. Why isn’t Defra supporting the Prime Minister? I don’t know why they are being so reticent about putting that in place.”

Chair of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Forum, Philip Bolson said times are tough for everyone and a more progressive approach is needed in the hospitality sector. He said cuts in VAT even down to 15 per cent, from the current 20 cent, would be a help.

“Increasingly people want to know what is on their plate, in restaurants, and cafes and where it has come from. The supplier needs to be known. We need to give hospitality a voice and make buying a quality product a choice.

“It is very difficult at the current time. You can start off with the best intentions, but there is the cost, there isn’t an easy answer. We need the government to make life easier, through VAT and taxation. VAT at 20 per cent is not progressive, 15 per cent would help, we need a different way of doing it.”