Mel Stride MP at yesterday's rally in Westminster
A major protest in Westminster yesterday (Monday, 10th February) saw farmers from across the country rallying against the government’s proposed Family Farm Tax, which critics say will hit over 75% of English and Scottish farms. The demonstration coincided with a parliamentary debate on inheritance tax relief for working farms, amid growing public outcry and widespread petitions calling for the policy’s repeal.
Despite assurances from Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Environment Secretary Steve Reed that farmers would be protected, recent proposals indicate that new inheritance tax rules could severely impact family farms. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned that these changes will be devastating for the agricultural sector, threatening domestic food security and potentially forcing many farms to sell off assets to meet tax liabilities.
Family farms have long been at the centre of debates on inheritance tax policy in the UK, with previous proposals often criticised for failing to consider the unique financial structures of family-run businesses. In December, the Conservative Party delivered a petition with 215,465 signatures to the Labour Government, urging the reversal of these proposed changes. Earlier this week, an e-petition against the Family Farm Tax amassed over 147,000 signatures, reflecting the widespread concern among the public and the farming community.
At the rally, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and Conservative MP for Central Devon, Mel Stride, condemned the policy as “vindictive.” He said: “Despite tens of thousands of farmers descending on Westminster and hundreds of thousands signing petitions against the Family Farm Tax, Labour are still intent on continuing this malicious policy. Farming sits at the heart of my constituency, and I will do everything I can to oppose this attack on hardworking local farmers across the country.”
This latest protest shows the deep-seated frustrations among family farmers, many of whom fear that the new rules will force them to break up their farms or sell land to cover steep inheritance taxes. Critics argue that the government’s figures vastly underestimate the policy’s impact, posing a significant threat to the future viability of family-run agriculture and, by extension, the nation’s food supply.
As the debate continues in Parliament, farmers and their supporters remain determined to secure better terms for family farms.
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