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Unite the union says the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board will have dire consequences for farming and farm workers leading to falling living standards in rural communities across England and Wales.

Wages and terms and conditions are set by the Agricultural Wages Board on behalf of 154,000 agricultural workers.

Unite national officer, Ian Waddell, said: "Even the Thatcher and Major governments didn’t go as far as scrapping the Agricultural Wages Board, recognising that rural workers need protection if food supplies are to be secure. Unite is building a broad alliance across rural communities to oppose the government's decision.

"The government's decision to press ahead with abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board will have dire consequences for farming and farm workers. Living standards across rural communities in England and Wales will fall as a result.

“Agriculture is critical to food supplies in this country and we have very real concerns. There is already a shortage of skilled labour and this will only be exacerbated if wages are under pressure, jeopardising our food security.”