The case for a grocery ombudsman to police supermarket-supplier relations edged closer to fruition as its case was heard in open parliament for the first time last Friday.

Albert Owen, MP for Ynys Môn (Anglesey), put forward a Private Members’ Bill and received 44 votes in favour without opposition.

The approval allows it to proceed to a second reading and sources inside parliament told freshinfo it was likely to reach that stage “as normal”.

A Westminster source said: “We think it will probably go to a standing committee phase as a normal bill would do but as it’s a Private Members’ Bill it could be different.”

An ombudsman is believed by many in the trade to be vital in enforcing the new Grocery Suppliers’ Code of Practice, which came into force on 4 February.

However, the process could be entirely derailed by the forthcoming general election, which may see parliament dissolved before the bill completes its legislative process.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said: “It is encouraging to see such a high level of cross-party support for a campaign which has been vigorously championed and promoted by the NFU in recent years, and there is every chance that the bill will be resurrected in future parliaments if government fails to legislate appropriately on the matter.”