The Prime Minister will not accept hormone injected beef in the UK as a result of trade deals with other nations, the House of Commons has heard.

Shadow environment minister Daniel Zeichner told MPs: “To maintain that healthy, sustainable food system farmers need a level playing field. So when the Member for North East Somerset (Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg) made his recent comments about the benefits of importing hormone injected beef it sent a shudder through the industry.”

Sir Jacob recently suggested he favoured the import of hormone injected beef from Australia, drawing the ire of farmers in his constituency.

The Northern Farmer: File photograph of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Mr Zeichner added: “Because this time last year, he was at the very top of Government alongside the Secretary of State. So can the minister, from his long experience in Government, tell us how many others at the top of his Government harbour this private view?”

Environment minister Mark Spencer replied: “What I can say to him is the gentleman at the top of Government, the Prime Minister, has been absolutely clear on this. He was absolutely explicit that we will not accept hormone produced beef at any point in the future, nor will we accept chlorinated chicken.

“He has the back of British farmers and their support, and he will do everything he can to help and support them.”