YORKSHIRE farmers who travelled to Westminster for Back British Farming Day won the support of eight local MPs – all of whom signed the NFU’s post-Brexit pledge to get behind British food production.

Farmers from York, Goole, Leeds and Hull joined others others from across the country outside the Houses of Parliament to highlight the contribution farming makes to the nation – £108 billion to the economy and employing one in eight of the national workforce.

NFU farmer members and staff encouraged MPs to support the NFU’s Back British Farming Pledge, a seven-point action plan designed to provide firm foundations for the industry following Britain’s exit from the EU.

More than 100 MPs and Lords attended the event, including eight from Yorkshire – Greg Knight, Jason McCartney, Julian Sturdy, Kevin Hollinrake, Nigel Adams, Rachael Maskell, Graham Stewart and Robert Goodwill.

Many more MPs wore specially made wheat and wool lapel pins produced specifically for the day. These could clearly be seen during the televised Prime Minister’s Questions debate.

Paul Tompkins, the North East NFU's national dairy board member, said: "The day was a huge success and it was very rewarding to win the support of so many of our MPs, while also talking to passing members the public, showcasing the quality British food we produce."