Tens of thousands will take to the streets of Westminster today on behalf of Britain’s farmers. They have been driven to protest in an attempt to make Labour ministers listen to their concerns. The Government’s lack of empathy with farmers is sorely apparent – and the stakes are high. If ministers refuse to hear these demands, we could see the end of farming as we know it.
The Daily’s Express crusade to Save Britain’s Family Farms has shown how farming families will be ruined by the proposed policy of applying Inheritance Tax of 20% on farms worth more than £1million. This measure will make it financially punishing – if not impossible – for farmers to pass on land to their sons and daughters.
The Government is adamant that three quarters of farmers will pay nothing. But these figures are robustly contested by campaigners, who believe the real figure will worsen in time. I recently interviewed Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith for the podcast A Nation Of Taxpayers. He warned that the policy would end up “like Russian dolls, with each generation that passes, you end up with (farms) worth 80% of what they were before”.
Despite representations made by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the Countryside Alliance, politicians and celebrities such as Jeremy Clarkson and Kirsty Allsopp, the Government seems hellbent on giving our farmers a kicking regardless of the consequences.
This flies in the face of the pledge made by Sir Keir Starmer last year when he addressed the NFU conference in a cynical bid to secure the rural vote when he was leader of the opposition.
He talked about the importance of food security and pledged that “50% of all food purchased by the public sector will be food that is produced locally and sustainably.”
This will not be achieved if family farms sell up as they can no longer afford to pass on their land to future generations.
Labour’s contempt for the countryside seems to stem from their sheer ignorance of farming and rural life. Cabinet members appear to have zero exposure to anything outside of their urban comfort zones.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed looks bewildered when pictured in the country in his posh wellies donated by the ever-generous Labour donor Lord Alli. The former leader of London’s Lambeth Council and the MP for Streatham and Croydon North cannot have much experience of rural life – unless he is keeping it extremely well hidden.
As a teenager, I was an Arundel Young Farmer. Although I’m not from a farming family myself, I saw first-hand how tough farming life can be from dusk to dawn, 365 days a year.
Farmers have no opportunity to jet off for two weeks in the sun, should they fancy it, as there is typically nobody else available to run the farm. Livestock and land need to be looked after at Christmas and Easter, when others are enjoying rest. There is no time off. Sick days do not exist as no matter how ill you might be, farms still need running.
There’s also a wider disconnect between farming and some members of the public. I live in Chichester, West Sussex, surrounded by fields. But some here have complained of tractors coming through the area transporting the potato harvest as the vehicles make too much noise. It seems they’re happy to visit their local farm during lambing season for cute pictures with the kids, but are less keen on supporting other vital areas of farming life.
Our nation’s farmers are facing a horrific time. It is well-documented the ongoing battle many have with the big supermarkets to get a fair price for their milk, meat, and crops.
Last week it was also revealed that farm incomes had dropped by over 50%, according to published figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Average farm business incomes fell from £103,100 in 2022-23 to £45,300 in 2023-24.
Against this bleak backdrop, the Government must show compassion and listen to our farmers about amending or scrapping the proposed inheritance tax policy. This must be done to ensure future food security, to support farming families and to protect rural life.
Along with many others, I will be attending the protest today in a bid to make minister listen. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor now have an opportunity to prove they are not completely tone deaf.
Today we stand shoulder to shoulder with our farmers for their and our futures.
