THE South Lakes MP says comments from a senior government adviser that 'we don't need farmers' are "outrageously stupid".

Tim Farron challenged government officials to visit Cumbrian farmers after Dr Tim Leunig reportedly claimed that agriculture is not vital to the UK economy.

The Mail on Sunday reported that they had seen comments from Dr Leunig, economic adviser to the Chancellor, which said the food sector was "not critically important" to the country’s economy and that agriculture and fisheries "certainly isn’t".

Mr Farron said: “As outrageously stupid as the comments are, it sadly comes as no surprise that this is the view of people in Whitehall.

"I challenge government officials to get out of their offices in London, don their wellies and come up to Cumbria for the day to see the amazing work that our local hard-working farmers do.”

The Government has distanced itself from the comments made by Dr Leunig. A spokesperson said: ‘We have made clear the comments are not in line with government policy.’

Sources said the remarks were made in personal emails and that Dr Leunig was not speaking in his Treasury role.