Government should think again about ‘family farm tax’

Having spoken up in Parliament in their defence, it was important for me to meet with farmers from across South Cambridgeshire and hear directly from them about the impacts of the ‘family farm tax’. I heard heart-breaking stories from family farmers, many of whom have farmed their land for three generations. They are deeply upset, anxious and call these budget measures “cruel” and wrongheaded. Farmers are ‘flogging their guts out’ putting food on our plates but this budget is the last straw for many. It was plain to see that confidence is at an all-time low in the farming sector. The changes to inheritance tax come at the same time as cliff-edge changes to direct payments, delays in SFIs, botched trade deals flooding the country with food that doesn’t meet our standards, and a sudden notice that capital grants have been paused. Several of the farmers gathered said they were now seriously doubting whether they want their children and grandchildren to succeed them on the farm. Our farmers feel no one is listening to them. It was disappointing that Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister for Farming, was unable to join us. I will continue to push the government to axe the family farm tax. Farmers have proposals about fairer ways to deal with inheritance tax and the government should be listening to them.