Sir Keir Starmer is facing a humiliating Labour rebellion when MPs vote on the inheritance tax hike on farmers.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will use her first Opposition Day this week to force a vote on reversing the family farm tax.
It is expected to place 114 Labour MPs who have rural seats under pressure and highlight divisions within the party over the plans to tax farms worth more than £1million.
While the result of Wednesday’s vote will not be binding, the number of Labour abstentions could reach 60 – higher than the 52 who missed the vote on the winter fuel allowance.
Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins said smaller farms face an “existential threat” and the Conservatives want rural Labour MPs to join them to campaign to reverse inheritance tax changes.
“On Wednesday we are calling particularly rural Labour MPs to the Chamber to explain themselves and to join us in trying to stop this tax,” she told Times Radio.
“And it matters to us all because we may be … a very, very long way away, but of course we all care about the quality of our food. We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.
“We all care about our food security, making sure that we’re not having to rely on food imports.
“We care about the price of food as well. We’ve had a very difficult couple of years in cost of living.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled reforms at last month’s Budget limiting the existing 100% relief for farms to only the first £1million of combined agricultural and business property.
But the measure has sparked widespread fury from farmers, who are demanding a U-turn.
The Daily Express’s Save Britain’s Family Farms crusade has demanded that the Chancellor U-turns on this decision, which risks decimating the sector for future generations.
The Government insists the changes will only affect the very wealthiest, but National Farmers’ Union data suggest three-quarters of farmers will be affected.
Recent polling by More in Common found 58% of the public say they support the farmers’ protests.
Sir Keir faced embarrassment when thousands of farmers descended on Whitehall last month to protest against the measures.
Jeremy Clarkson, who fronts Amazon’s Clarkson’s Farm, was among speakers at the rally in central London.
