𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

He claimed that vegetables being sold for as little as 7 pence meant that someone was being exploited somewhere in the supply chain. Speaking at a meeting of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union Mr Polanski said that such cheap stock was “not a sign of a healthy system”. He told attendees “something is not right” if a customer was paying such a low price for stock.

“It is those supermarket bosses who are taking record profits […] meanwhile paying their workers poverty wages. We cannot go on like this.”

His party has now called for new laws to come in which would increase regulations on the sector and force bosses to pay suppliers more.

Conservatives branded the suggestions “delusional”, with the shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith saying that “anyone thinking that food retailing – or food production – is largely unregulated is delusional.”

He added that the proposal was “just the latest example [of] adding significantly to the cost of food.”

It follows a raft of policy announcements from the insurgent party, which has seen a spike in support in the polls after Mr Polanski’s election as leader last year.

So far he has demanded a £15 an hour minimum wage, and called for a 10-to-one pay ration to be enforced – limiting how much company bosses can earn.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor has previously suggested capping the price on common foodstuffs such as bread, eggs and milk.

Speaking at the time, Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Machin branded the proposal “completely preposterous”.

Retailers have rejected the claims that cheap veg was proof of exploitation.

Andrew Opie, the director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium told the Daily Telegraph that promotions on items like fruit and veg “help support customers to eat a healthy and affordable diet.”

He added: “As the cost of living continues to bite for many households, we should be celebrating discounts like these.”