Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has said that a minister’s comments about the British countryside could be a replay of Emily Thornberry’s mocking of the St George’s flag.

Speaking on GB News, he said: “The strains of violins singing ‘There’ll Always Be In England’ fade gently into the background. Are Labradors far-right extremists?

“A Labour minister has caused a national stir after telling a conference fringe event that the traditional setting of the British countryside, warm ale, country pubs, and black Labradors represents a far right nostalgic vision of Britain.

“The Nature Minister says she fears the countryside may become a political battleground at the next election. But what does Ms Riddell-Carpenter think far right looks like?

“Is the countryside far right, or do the socialists just hate what makes England English?

“I wonder whether this is like the mocking of the St George’s flag by Emily Thornberry? That it’s indicative of a view in the Labour Party that’s slightly condescending towards the countryside.

“An agricultural policy hasn’t worked. They had that disastrous launch of a subsidy system a week ago, where all the money went in hours.

“It looks as if Labour just doesn’t care about the countryside, and it very much plays to that.

“Isn’t she just forgetting that what ministers say matters?”