Labour has been forced to rethink its decision to suddenly suspend a key green farming scheme without warning. The Government announced in March that it would not accept new applications for the Sustainable Farming Initiative (SFI), which pays farmers to manage their land in an environmentally friendly way.

The move, which left thousands of farmers with half-completed applications, prompted the National Farmers Union (NFU) to threaten a legal challenge. Environment minister Daniel Zeichner today confirmed that farmers who had begun an application within two months of the closure date would be able to complete it.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “We said from day one that this sudden closure, with just minutes’ notice, was wholly unacceptable and always wrong.

“The NFU was determined to use its expertise to challenge this devastating decision, and I would like to thank those members and staff who led this work."

The change means around 3,000 farmers will now be able to submit their applications.

Tory shadow justice secretary Victoria Atkins said: "It should not take the threat of legal action to do the right thing for British farmers.

"Now 3,000 more farmers can complete their SFI payment applications and not face the Labour-imposed cliff edge.

"Labour could have avoided this U-turn if they listened."

The sudden axing of the scheme in March was described at the time by campaigners as "another shattering blow" to farmers and the "most cruel" betrayal.

It comes as Labour has faced an ongoing backlash for its inheritance tax raid on farmers, which the Daily Express is campaigning against with our Save Britain's Family Farm crusade.

The Government has promised to set out details of a revised version of the scheme following the spending review later this year.