Labour's 'ideological attack' on farmers lambasted as thousands descend on Westminster for fresh protest: 'Government must change its mind'

Speaking to GB News, Atkins highlighted the "damage" the tax is already causing to farming families, claiming it is "stopping their investment" and bringing "worry" to agricultural communities across the country.

She emphasised that farmers would rather be working their land than protesting: "They don't want to leave their farms. They want to carry on growing food for us."

The Shadow Environment Secretary claimed the issue has recently "taken an even more urgent turn".

Noting the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Atkins explained: "In recent days we have been talking very seriously about national security. And national security is not just about defence spending, important, though that is.

"It's also about food security. It's about energy security, it's about industrial security. And this family farm tax is completely undermining our food security because we know that farms are we will see the breakup and the damage to farms across the country."

She argued the tax is "completely undermining our food security" as it will lead to "the breakup and the damage to farms across the country".

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Atkins also criticised the Government's environmental policies in relation to farming, and their plans for net zero solar farms on Britain's farmland.

"The Government's obsession with net zero has meant that in the last couple of days, we've seen yet another solar farm approved for prime agricultural land approved by a Labour minister," she said.

She argued this land "should be producing food" instead of being used for Labour's net zero strategy.

She suggested there could be implications for consumers, stating the protest is important for "ensuring that our food prices are kept steady".

Concluding her remarks, Atkins emphasised the protest's significance beyond agricultural concerns.

"It's important not just for the future of these individual farms, it's important for us as consumers and ensuring that our food prices are kept steady," she told GB News.

The Shadow Environment Secretary ended with a direct call for policy change.

She added: "It's also critically important to our national security, and that's why the Government must change its mind."