Environment Secretary Steve Reed has been condemned after he admitted he has not contacted any families left grieving by the suicide of a farming relative. The Cabinet minister made the confession during a radio phone-in show on Tuesday after a furious farmer demanded to know why the Government has not listened to alternative proposals to the family farms tax.
The admission came after the Labour frontbencher was asked about John Charlesworth, a 78-year-old farmer who killed himself a day before Rachel Reeves’s October Budget to “save the farm for future generations”. Under changes made by the Chancellor, inherited farms worth more than £1million will be taxed at a rate of 20%, having been shielded from the levies for decades. A 20% rate will also be charged on inherited business assets over £1million when someone dies.
Mr Reed said of Mr Charlesworth’s suicide: “Whenever there’s any tragedy like that, our thoughts and our prayers and our hearts should go out to the person and the family of those affected. I didn’t know about this one … I think it’s very dangerous to speculate about why tragedies like this happen.”
He argued that there is a “very high incidence of mental health in farming” and the rate of poor mental health has been growing in the sector for a long time.
Asked if he had spoken to any families affected by such tragedies, Mr Reed replied: “I haven’t, no.”
His Conservative opponent, Victoria Atkins, said the confession proved it was time for the tax to be scrapped.
The Shadow Environment Secretary told the Express: “Since Labour announced their devastating farming policies, I have been warning Steve Reed about the deteriorating mental health in our rural communities.
“My thoughts are with the families who have experienced such horrific loss over the last few months. Now is the time for the Secretary of State to do the right thing and plead with the Chancellor to stop the family farm tax.”
Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice said it was proof Mr Reed was failing in his duties towards the farming community.
“Farming has the highest suicide rate of any UK industry, driven by Labour’s relentless tax hikes and neglect,” said the Boston and Skegness MP. “Steve Reed has failed in his duty to support farmers or offer help to those in crisis.
“Our farmers are the backbone of the economy, supporting nearly half a million jobs and contributing over £11billion annually.
“Labour’s disregard for farmers, taxpayers, and families knows no bounds. Only Reform UK will put the British people first and fight to protect our farmers and the future of British agriculture.
“The public is fed up with out-of-touch politicians blind to the damage their own policies cause.”
In May, Ms Atkins called on Mr Reed to resign from Cabinet after yet another report that a tax-clobbered farmer had ended their own life to preserve the estate for their children.
She revealed in the Commons: “I have received the devastating news that several more farmers have taken their own lives because of the family farm tax.
“This is the Secretary of State’s legacy.”
That same month, a tearful farmer told Ms Atkins while on a farm visit: “If there was a rope in the corner of this room, I would use it.”
- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Samaritans for free, even from a mobile without credit, at any time of the day or night on 116 123. The number won’t appear on the phone bill. Alternatively, email: jo@samaritans.org