The Prime Minister spoke to apprentices in a tractor shed and in a field of sheep during a visit to an agricultural college.

Rishi Sunak met young people learning to service farm machinery at Writtle University College, Essex, on a scheme working with equipment brands Case and New Holland.

He then walked to a nearby field where more apprentices were drenching sheep.

The Northern Farmer: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak watches apprentice Kate Watson (right) during sheep drenching during a

Speaking afterwards, Mr Sunak said he had been “talking to apprentices who work in our farming sector”.

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“I’ve been talking to them about the changes that I announced ensuring we’re going to deliver net zero but do so in a proportionate, pragmatic way that minimises the impact on working families, all while hitting what are world-leading targets,” he said.

The Northern Farmer: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to apprentice Kate Watson during sheep drenching during a visit

“As I’ve been talking to them, these changes are particularly important for our rural and farming communities who were facing huge costs and are the backbone of our local economies.

“I’m going to make the big decisions that are right for the long-term interests of our country, even if those are difficult, because that’s how we’re going to bring change, that’s how we’re going to build a better future for our children.”

Richmond MP Mr Sunak used a speech on Wednesday to weaken a host of pledges designed to help the UK achieve a net zero carbon emission economy by 2050.

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The policy overhaul included pushing back the ban on new petrol and diesel cars back by five years to 2035.

He watered down the plan to phase out gas boilers by 2035, creating an exemption for a fifth of households to potentially never make the change to alternatives such as heat pumps.

During his speech, Mr Sunak insisted the UK was already ahead of allies in reducing emissions ahead of changes that he said would not prevent the country from hitting the 2050 target.

He argued there was a risk of losing the “consent” of the British public for net zero if “unacceptable costs” on families was pursued, forecasting that his reforms could save the average household as much as £15,000.

As well as the headline changes, the PM also claimed to have scrapped a series of “heavy-handed” incoming measures, such as a tax on meat and flying, compulsory car-sharing and forcing people to recycle in seven different bins.