The president of the National Farmers’ Union fought back tears as he explained the impact of tax changes on farmers to MPs, as a noisy protest by farmers took place nearby.
Tom Bradshaw appeared emotional as he told the Commons Environment Committee of the “more severe human impacts” the policy could have, including the risk of farmers taking their own lives.
Under the changes to inheritance tax in Rachel Reeves’ Budget, a 20 per cent levy will be charged on agricultural assets worth more than £1m.
Mr Bradshaw said: “It’s not money. This is a lifetime of work, its the heritage and the custodianship of their farm.”
He gave evidence as hundreds of farmers gathered in Westminster with their tractors in a second protest in as many months against Labour’s plan.
Whitehall was blocked with the parked tractors before a slow procession took place of Westminster as part of the day of action organised by Save British Farming and Kent Fairness for Farmers.
But Sir Keir Starmer appeared resolute on Labour’s policy when questioned during prime minister’s questions.
The prime minister said: “In a typical family case, the threshold is £3m so the vast majority of farms will be unaffected, despite the fear mongering of the party opposite.”
Key points
- NFU president fights back tears while speaking about impact on farmers
- No good news for protesting farmers from Keir Starmer - analysis
- Starmer slams opposition parties for ‘fear mongering’ over tractor tax
- Strike action not ruled out - but very unlikely before Christmas
- What’s happening at the farmers’ protest today
What is happening today?
Wednesday 11 December 2024 08:41 , Alex RossOrganisers Kent Fairness for Farmers and Save British Farming say today’s action is in responde to a “toxic” Budget, that includes changes to inheritance tax for agricultural businesses.
After 13,000 people rallied in Westminster against the Budget last month, tractors are expected to travel into the capital from across the country, including from Exmoor, Shropshire, Somerset and the home counties, for the latest protest.
The action will begin with the farmers assembling at Whitehall, facing Parliament from 10am.
Then, at noon, organisers and some guests will deliver speeches on the consequences of the Budget.
At 12.45pm, the tractors will start a slow drive around Whitehall before returning to the House of Parliament.
How have we got here?
Wednesday 11 December 2024 08:48 , Alex RossAnger among farmers against governments has been brewing for years.
Many feel hard done-by measures brought in after Brexit, including the phasing out of direct payments to farmers, and the bringing in of environmental subsidies.
For many, Rachel Reeves’ Budget was the tipping point.
It includes changes to inheritance tax for agricultural businesses and a faster phaseout of EU-era subsidies in favour of environmental payments.
The NFU has since launched a campaign to stop the “tractor tax”, which it says will impact hundreds of family farms each year.
Last month we saw a protest attended by thousands of farmers in London, today we’re seeing a second protest organised by Kent Fairness for Farmers and Save British Farming.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The government may well try and draw this out, hoping we will give up over time, but rest assured we are in it for the long haul.
“We will make it clear that this issue will not go away and we will not stop until this awful family farm tax is stopped.”
Will Jeremy Clarkson be at today’s protest?
Wednesday 11 December 2024 08:54 , Alex RossThe honest answer is we don’t know yet.
Jeremy Clarkson has undoubtedly raised the profile for farming through his series Clarkson’s Farm. He has also been supportive of the farmers’ calls against inheritance tax changes.
At last month’s protest, he attracted much media attention as he spoke against the government’s Budget, saying it would be “the end” for farmers.
Today’s protest will see the organisers and some farming guests deliver speeches from noon.
We’ll have to see if Mr Clarkson appears.
‘We are not going to [do] anything silly’
Wednesday 11 December 2024 09:01 , Alex RossThere has been much talk about how far farmers will go in their protest against inheritance tax, with some speculating they could go on strike.
Farmers I’ve spoken to have felt uneasy about the prospect of strike action, given they appear to have the public support at the moment. They fear they could lose the backing if shoppers started seeing shortages in the supermarket.
Speaking to Farmers Guardian, organisers and founder of Save British Farming appeared to hint that they would not push too far in their campaign.
She said: “British farmers have been very well behaved for a long time - although we are not going to [do] anything silly - there will be more coordinated action to put pressure on the government.
“Our message is to save British food security and we want people to underrstand that what this government is doing is putting Britain at risk.”
What are the organiser demands
Wednesday 11 December 2024 09:15 , Alex RossSave British Farming is one of the groups behind today’s protest.
Members have set up a petition outlining their demands, which are:
- Ensure fair trade and protect standards: The government must negotiate trade deals that preserve our high standards of food safety, animal welfare, and environmental protection, preventing the influx of lower-quality imports that undermine UK farming.
- Stop the dishonest labelling of food: Current labelling deceives consumers and undermines British food.
- Address the shortage of labour: Immediate measures are needed to alleviate the labour shortages faced by the agricultural sector, ensuring that UK farming remains viable and competitive.
- Provide adequate funding and support: With the loss of EU funding, the government must step up to offer financial support and incentives to help farmers transition, adapt and thrive in a post-Brexit landscape.
- Promote sustainability and innovation: Investing in research, development and the adoption of modern farming techniques to enhance productivity, sustainability and resilience against climate change.
‘It’s getting so difficult’
Wednesday 11 December 2024 09:30 , Alex RossA few weeks ago, I visited Frome Livestock Market to hear from farmers on the impact of Rachel Reeves’ Budget.
It’s not easy being a farmer - working in all-weather, long hours and uncertain finances - so the changes to inheritance tax has been viewed as an attack on family farms.
“It’s getting so difficult,” farmer Chris Callow said. “The boys on the large-scale farms have the means to buy up huge stock, but we just don’t have the money to even get started properly.
“I don’t know what we do. We want to build up the farm, but it’s hard. We’ll keep going at it, for the time being, I’m looking at another job in tree surgery alongside this.”
Another farmer called Dominic, who did not want to share his full name, said: “It would appear to be a tax intended to restrict wealthy landowners, but in reality it will end up hitting family farms.
“It has completely missed the target. Perhaps they don’t care, they think we are all Tory voters who will never vote for them anyway.”
Defra’s response to latest protest today
Wednesday 11 December 2024 09:40 , Alex RossThe protest comes as the Government publishes a report on Wednesday analysing the state of UK food security.
And MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will hear from countryside and farming leaders and financial experts on the impacts of the changes to inheritance tax.
Ahead of the protest, Defra said it had put £343 million into the rural economy last week, in payments for nature-friendly farming activities, benefiting more than 31,000 farmers.
Defra also announced new details of its environmental land management schemes, which pay farmers for “public goods” ranging from healthy soil, rivers and hedgerows, to habitat creation and large-scale nature restoration work.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed insisted “our commitment to farmers is steadfast”, as he said the cash was part of a £5 billion two-year farming budget which was “the largest ever directed at sustainable food production in our country’s history”.
The first tractors arriving in London
Wednesday 11 December 2024 09:47 , Alex RossWe’re just getting the first pictures of tractors arriving in London on the back of lorries.
I’ve just spoken to Liz Webster, from organiser Save British Farming - she believes around 500 farmers are bringing their tractors to Westminster today.
The tractors are gathering from 10am outside Parliament.
Keir Starmer remains stubborn despite increase in pressure
Wednesday 11 December 2024 09:50 , Alex RossThis is the second farmers’ protest against changes to inheritance tax announced in the Budget.
Just one Labour MP has so far broken ranks and declared he would rebel against the his party’s plan. Last month, Labour Baroness Ann Mallalieu also told me that Starmer risked losing support of the farming communities already.
But when asked if Sir Keir was concerned farmers could get more militant and restrict food supplies, a spokesman for the PM said: “We have been very clear we are not going to change course on this policy.
“It was necessary to take tough decisions at the Budget and the spending review and those decisions remain.
“But our commitment to farmers is steadfast and our message to farmers is clear, that is why we provided £5 billion to the farming budget over two years including more money than ever for sustainable food production.”
Starmer warned Labour faces rural MPs wipeout in farm tax backlash ahead of protest
More tractors heading to Parliament for protest
Wednesday 11 December 2024 09:55 , Alex RossFlying British flags and displaying banners, we’re now seeing more tractors coming into Westminster, with around 500 expected.
Strike action not ruled out - but very unlikely before Christmas
Wednesday 11 December 2024 10:12 , Alex RossQuestion on many people’s minds is how far farmers will go in their campaign against the inheritance tax changes.
With the Labour government standing firm, campaign groups such as Save British Farming are exploring ways to increase the pressure on MPs.
That starts with the second protest happening today at Westminster, with around 500 tractors believed to be arriving ahead of Sir Keir Starmer answering prime minister’s questions.
Next up, Liz Websiter, founder of the Save British Farming, told me they will target minister towns by arriving with tractors. She said the new transport secretary Heidi Alexander, MP for Swindon, was on the hit list.
But what about strike action? When I asked, here is what she said: “At the moment, nothing as far as I’m concerned, we have not organised anything but we are open to co-ordinating with others, it’s a mass effort.
“It won’t be before Christmas, I doubt it, we don’t want to interupt people’s Christmases.”
How disruptive will today’s protest be?
Wednesday 11 December 2024 10:28 , Alex RossWe’re already seeing plenty of pictures of tractors arriving outside Parliament, but following last month’s large-scale protest, how disruptive will this one be?
At 12noon there will be speeches outside Parliament, before at 12.45am, the tractors will go on a loop course around Westminster that will see some roads closed off.
The route has been drawn up with support from the Met Police.
Organiser Liz Webster told me: “We worked very closely with the Met who have been absolutely brilliant - we have worked a plan with the police so that the route we have got is closed off so it’ll be as disruptive as whenever a major event happens in London and a few streets are closed off.”
Live pictures from the ground at Westminster
Wednesday 11 December 2024 10:30 , Alex RossThis is a fastly-moving picture with more tractors arriving by the minute. Here are the latest pictures from outside Parliament.
Map of slow procession by tractors as police warn of road closures
Wednesday 11 December 2024 10:35 , Alex RossAs we’ve been saying, after the speeches today, the tractors will start a slow procession on an agreed route around Westminster.
We’ve now had a map provided from the Met Police.
A force spokesperson said: “We have had a number of positive conversations with the protest organisers to safely manage the event and expect a high number of people driving tractors to take part in a procession.
“They will form up in Whitehall before travelling down Millbank, Horseferry Road and Victoria Street.
There will be a staggered closure of some roads around this area and diversions will be in place.”
The Met Police expect all closures to be lifted by 4pm.
Protest now in full swing
Wednesday 11 December 2024 10:48 , Rachel Clun in WestminsterDozens of tractors are now in Westminster for today’s protest.
Some are being driven along the roads, some are parked up in a line - all appear to be blowing horns and flashing lights as the farmers aim to get their message across on the impact of inheritance tax on their businesses.
Many tractors also have signs with slogans such as “back British farmers” and “no farmers no food”.
Nigel Farage joins farmers protesting outside Parliament
Wednesday 11 December 2024 10:52 , Alex RossJust like at last month’s protest, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has joined farmers in their calls for the government to reverse changes to inheritance tax for farms.
Holding a banner saying ‘with our farmers’, he’s been pictured smiling with a farmer cap on his head.
Meanwhile, inside Parliament...
Wednesday 11 December 2024 10:53 , Alex RossThe Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has kicked off with MPs first hearing from countryside and farming leaders and financial experts on the effects of the changes to inheritance tax.
First up is Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser at the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, David Sturrock, senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank and Stuart Maggs, head of tax and partner at Howes Percival law firm and Dr Arun Advani, director of the think tank CenTax.
Committee chairman Alistair Carmichael said: “This morning, we are going to be scrutinising the potential impacts of the proposed changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief on the farming sector.”
‘All we want to do is feed the public’
Wednesday 11 December 2024 11:07 , Rachel Clun in WestminsterBex Broad, a fourth generation farmer from Sevenoaks in Kent says she’s joined the protest with her family to push the government to rethink its Budget.
She said the planned changes to inheritance tax were her biggest worry, with fears farms would have to sell off land in able to afford it.
“We will see businesses go overnight,” she said.
Ms Broad urged the public to support farmers by buying local.
“All we want to do is feed the public.”
UK produces 62 per cent of food consumed - report reveals today
Wednesday 11 December 2024 11:10 , Alex RossOn the day of the protest, the government has published a report on Wednesday analysing the state of UK food security.
It has found that the UK was 75 per cent self-sufficient in the food that can be grown in this country in 2023, and produced the equivalent of 62 per cent of overall food consumed.
The figures are broadly unchanged over the past two decades, but the report also warned long term declines in “natural capital” – resources such as clean water, healthy soils and wildlife – is a pressing risk to UK food production.
The report also said extreme weather continues to have a significant effect on domestic production, particularly arable crops, fruit and vegetables.
And the UK continues to be “highly dependent” on imports to meet demand for fruit, vegetables and seafood, which are significant sources of nutrients for consumers, and many of the countries this food is imported from face their own climate-related challenges and sustainability risks, the report said.
All this comes as farmers claim the changes to inheritance tax, as announced in the Budget, will see farms produce less as land is sold off to pay for the levy.
‘Town hall rebellion’ sweeping across country
Wednesday 11 December 2024 11:21 , Alex RossAs farmers voice their anger over changes to inheritance tax, we’re now hearing that more councils have agreed motions, putting on the record their opposition to the plan announced in Rachel Reeves’ budget.
North Northamptonshire, Devon, Harborough, Staffordshire Moorlands, Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire councils have backed the farmers with motions.
Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Suffolk councils are all due to holds votes in the coming days.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs for the Countryside Alliance, is supporting the “town hall rebellion”.
He said: “ The number of councils standing with their farmers in opposing this tax continues to grow and we thank them for recognising the damage this proposal will have on family farms.
“If the Chancellor will not listen and work with the farming community to rethink this policy, the battle with the countryside will simply become a long running sore. That isn’t good for anyone and it’s a very bad look for the government”.
Paying inheritance tax over 10 years will be a ‘very significant shock’ for farms
Wednesday 11 December 2024 11:25 , Alex RossInside Parliament, where the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is taking place, financial experts have been explaing the effects of the changes to inheritance tax, with farms to pay 20 per cent on assets valued at more than £1m.
The levy could be paid over 10 years.
Speaking to the committee, Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser at the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, a body representing rural valuers, told the Environment Committee on Tuesday the strategies the Government has outlined for farmers to pay the tax are “not realistic”.
“You need to have an adequate, sufficient number of willing, competent, capable, interested members of the family if you’re going to try and pursue some of the lines that ministers have taken,” he said.
“And they have to be people who are going to be able to get on with each other and so some of the strategies that are being outlined are, for many people, simply not realistic, because they don’t have more than one or two children who are involved in the business.”
He added that their modelling shows the cost from paying the tax over 10 years could amount to around three quarters of an extra employee on the business.
“It is a very significant shock on what the business can actually pay out of earnings, leaving only not much, if anything, left for breakfast or for reinvestment,” he said.
‘Budget really spells the death knell for British farming'
Wednesday 11 December 2024 11:32 , Rachel Clun in WestminsterOrganiser Liz Webster says farmers are protesting because after decades of government neglect, add that the latest budget is a disaster.
“This latest budget really spells the death knell for British farming as we know it,” she said.
Ms Webster expects more than 500 tractors will eventually show up.
What’s happening at the scene of protest now
Wednesday 11 December 2024 11:47 , Rachel Clun in WestminsterI’m looking at hundreds of tractors lined up now in Whitehall from Great George Road, where Parliament sits, to Trafalgar Square.
Many are flying British flags and displaying homemade signs. One reads: “We can live without politicians but we can’t live without food.”
The road is closed with police standing at either side of the closure.
The atmosphere is friendly with many farmers bringing their families to the protest.
Although the road is closed, people are still able to walk around the tractors. Many are chatting to the farmers, along with dozens of journalists.
Loophole used by super rich to avoid tractor tax unavailable to many family farms
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:02 , Alex RossMost family farms will not be able to benefit from a loophole that is used by the super rich to avoid inheritance tax, meaning smaller estates are likely to be hit especially hard by the government’s tax raid.
In order to avoid being hit with the levy, a widely used tactic by people facing inheritance tax is to pass down assets seven years before death - but many family farms will be unable to do so as a result of the ‘gifts with reservation’ clause.
The clause means that if a farmer passes down their estate but still benefits from it by either living on the property or using the returns to fund their lifestyle, they will still be taxed on it.
However, wealthy investors who have bought up farmland are unlikely to be living on the property, meaning they can pass down the assets and benefit from the loophole.
Read more here:
Loophole used by super rich to avoid tractor tax unavailable to family farms
Sir Keir begins by welcoming fall of Assad’s regime in Syria
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:10 , Alex RossSir Keir Starmer begins Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions by “welcoming” the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad.
He tells the Commons: “Can I start by welcoming the fall of Assad? The people of Syria suffered for far too long under his brutal regime.
“What comes next is far from certain. We’ve been talking to regional and global allies to ensure that it is a political solution which protects civilians and minorities, and absolutely rejects terrorism and violence.”
Badenoch and Starmer help Farage again - analysis
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:13 , David MaddoxThis is the most tetchy PMQs since Kemi Badenoch became Tory leader.
She still believes that immigration is a good attack line but is hamstrung by the Tory failures on controlling either legal or illegal migrants.
The reason this is now at the top of the agenda is that Keir Starmer’s “Plan for Change” last week did not prioritise the issue.
Added to that his work as a lawyer and opposition shadow minister opposing controls on illegal migration and deportations still makes it difficult for Starmer to defend his record.
In truth though the one person who might be quietly smiling in the Commons during these exchanges is Nigel Farage whose main focus is immigration.
The two main party leaders trashing each other’s reputation on the issue reinforces his claims that Labour and the Tories have failed the country.
Outside PMQs farmers chant ‘no farmers, no food'
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:17 , Rachel Clun in WestminsterThe number of farmers and tractors has swelled near Westminster, with farmers at the head of the protest chanting “no farmers, no food”.
But no question to Sir Keir Starmer on farming just yet.
Welsh farmer and YouTuber Gareth Wyn Jones said the inheritance tax change would destroy British farming.
“A lot of these farms aren’t profitable as it is,” he said.
“I think we’ll see bankruptcies and we’ll see less food on the ground.”
Starmer slams opposition parties for ‘fear mongering’ over tractor tax
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:23 , Alex RossHere we go then. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey asks Sir Keir Starmer if he will “change course and recognise the vital role that family farms play” as hundreds of farmers protest with their tractors outside Parliament.
The prime minister accuses opposition parties of fear mongering over the controversial tractor tax.
Responding at prime minister’s questions, Sir Keir said: “In a typical family case, the threshold is £3m so the vast majority of farms will be unaffected, despite the fear mongering of the party opposite.”
However, just minutes earlier at the Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, National Farmers Union chief Tom Bradshaw said he estimates that 75 per cent of farms will be hit by the levy.
No good news for protesting farmers from Keir Starmer - analysis
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:25 , Alex RossKeir Starmer stood up at PMQs in the knowledge that just yards from where he was standing farmers on tractors were protesting his “family farm tax”.
They had been noisily making their presence felt outside parliament for hours – in the hopes of putting pressure on the prime minister to change tax and scrap his inheritance tax raid.
But the Labour leader had no good news for them.
Tackled on the issue by Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, he stuck to the government’s line telling MPs “the vast majority of farmers will be unaffected, despite the scaremongering from the party opposite (the Conservatives)”.
Tractor procession to start moving ‘shortly'
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:33 , Alex RossThis picture released in a tweet by Met Police shows the scale of tractors that have arrived for the slow procession around Westminster, it starts at 12.45pm.
Whitehall is nearly full and we expect the group to start moving shortly. pic.twitter.com/oA4Xma3nTr
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) December 11, 2024
Rachel Reeves has refused to engage over inheritance tax changes - NFU claims
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:47 , Alex RossTom Bradshaw, National Farmers’ Union president, said the chancellor has refused to engage in concerns over the proposed inheritance tax changes as farming leaders said they had no formal consultation before the Budget.
Mr Bradshaw told the Environment Committee today that everyone would work together to close any loophole, but added: “Until we know what the exam question is it’s very difficult. We’ve had multiple meetings since then, up to the Prime Minister. The Chancellor until then has refused to engage.”
He also said: “We did get wind that something was being discussed the Wednesday before the Budget and at that point we went public with our campaign to MPs. But there was no formal consultation at all.”
Robert Martin, national chairman at the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), said they also made representations.
“We weren’t able to get in to see Rachel Reeves which would have been a huge help to us,” he said.
Farmers address the crowd at the protest in Westminster
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:54 , Rachel Clun in WestminsterHundreds of people gathered to hear the farmers give speeches at the protest, as Sir Keir Starmer answered prime minister’s questions in Parliament.
Farmers addresssed a crowd on the back of a pickup truck in the centre of the tractor convoy, opposite Downing Street.
Jeff Gibson, founder for Fairness for Farmers, said the “cruel family farm tax” was destroying the industry for their children.
“How can we say to the next generation before you start to work you’ll be paying 10 years of tax burden?” he said.
“What future does farming have?”
Farmer Gareth Wyn Jones said: “We are not going to pay the inheritance tax.
“Listen to the people before you go cold and hungry.”
The protest organisers have laid a wreath to symbolise the death of farming.
It was followed by two minutes of silence to remember farmers who have taken their own lives.
Here we go then..... procession is about to start
Wednesday 11 December 2024 12:57 , Rachel Clun in WestminsterThe tractors are lined up and ready to go.
Farmers are quickly jumping back into their vehicles and turning on the engines.
The noise is really something.
Tractor procession of Westminster begins
Wednesday 11 December 2024 13:09 , Rachel Clun in WestminsterThe protest is now slowly rolling through Westminster.
Hundreds of people have gathered to watch and plenty of onlookers are holding placards that say “with our farmers”.
Londoners Kim and Sue said they came to the protest to support farmers.
“The government needs to listen to farmers,” Sue said.
Sir Keir Starmer reminded of comments he made to National Farmers’ Union ahead of election
Wednesday 11 December 2024 13:17 , Alex RossDuring PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer was reminded of comments he made to the National Farmers’ Union, when he appeared to show support for family farms.
Those remarks have stuck with farmers who say inheritance tax changes announced after Labour came to power will hurt family farms.
At PMQs, Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew said: “‘Losing a farm is not like losing any other business. It can’t come back.’
“Now, those are the words of the Prime Minister, that is what he said to the NFU in order to get their votes, so can the Prime Minister understand why farmers in Broadland and Fakenham and around the country now think that his administration is duplicitous?”
In his reply, Sir Keir told the Commons: “I think everybody welcomes the £5 billion over the next two years that we’ve put in the budget – well, they shake their heads, I’m afraid they do.
“£350 million in the last week alone, compared with the £300 million underspend by the last government.
“On the threshold, as he well knows, in an ordinary family case, the threshold is £3 million and that means the vast majority of farmers will be unaffected.”
NFU president starts crying while explaining impacts of tax changes
Wednesday 11 December 2024 13:22 , Alex RossWe’ve said it before, but the issue of inheritance tax changes, and the impact, is a emotional one for many farmers who fear they will lose businesses held for generations.
Today, speaking at the Commons Environment Committee, we’re hearing that Tom Bradshaw, National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president, started crying as he gave evidence.
He told MPs that middle-aged farmers concerned their parents do not have seven years left to ensure they can pass down the farm without paying tax are in an “awful, awful unacceptable position”.
The correct advice had been to keep the farm until death, he said.
“Now they don’t have any way to plan through that and yet they’ve given everything to producing the food for this country in that period post-Second World War.
“They really deserve more self-respect than they have been given by the changes that have been proposed.”
Mr Bradshaw went on to warn of “more severe human impacts” this policy could have, including the risk of farmers taking their own lives.
“No policy should ever be published that has that unintended side effect,” he said.
Addressing arguments that money does not necessarily trigger this response, he became emotional as he said: “It’s not money. This is a lifetime of work, its the heritage and the custodianship of their farm.”
‘They looked at Jeremy Clarkson and went: we’ll have him, we’ll take his money'
Wednesday 11 December 2024 13:35 , Alex RossAmong those protesting in Westminster is a young woman whose relatives fear losing their farm over inheritance tax. She is asking the government to “come and talk to us”.
Claire Fifield, aged 26, now lives and works in London, but said she regularly takes time off to help her step-family run their farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Because they are tenant farmers and do not own the land they farm, she said her family fear they won’t be able to pass the business down to future generations.
She said: “The government simply doesn’t understand – a million pounds is nothing.
“I don’t think they have spoken to a single farmer, and especially I don’t think they’ve spoken to a tenant farmer.
“I think they looked at Jeremy Clarkson and went: we’ll have him, we’ll take his money.
“That’s fine – but don’t punish the people who have been farming these lands for generations.”
Pictures from the tractor procession
Wednesday 11 December 2024 13:43 , Alex Ross
‘If Keir can’t hear us, he needs his hearing checked!’: Tractor tax protester hails turn out
Wednesday 11 December 2024 13:52 , Alex RossPraising the turnout from fellow farmers and protesters, Matt Cullen, organiser for Kent Fairness for Farmers, said, “I could not ask for more from the farmers,” noting that some had undertaken “six- or seven-hour journeys” to reach London.
However, he lamented the lack of response, saying he had heard “nothing so far” from the Commons or the Prime Minister. He added: “If Starmer can’t hear that lot going past the Commons, then he needs his hearing checked.”
Called for tax changes to focus on personal wealth and not business wealth
Wednesday 11 December 2024 14:05 , Alex RossTom Bradshaw, National Farmers’ Union president, has called for tax changes to focus on personal wealth and not business wealth, which would lead to a “very different proposal than the one that’s on the table”.
“What’s clear today with the proposal that’s in the Budget is that there is a desire from this Government to change where we are today, so our position is let’s work with you to get to an outcome that works for all rather than the blunt instrument that we have today,” he said, while speaking at the Commons Environment Committee.
Robert Martin, national chairman at the Tenant Farmers Association, said: “If the loophole was supposedly to stop the money coming in outside of agriculture and buying land up, they’ve still left rollover relief in place so they really haven’t stopped that at all and that’s my concern.”
More emotion from speakers at the Commons Environment Committee
Wednesday 11 December 2024 14:20 , Alex RossAfter NFU president Tom Bradshaw broke down while explaining the impact of changes to inheritance tax on farmers, Victoria Vyvyan, president of the Country Land and Business Association also grew emotional.
She told MPs that the tax changes come on top of a “pile of other human pain” that could lead to the risk of suicide among farmers.
“We have very good support in some ways which is why we know about this. It’s not just anecdotes,” she said.
She said a system in Cornwall sees health inspectors visiting farms, who have discovered all sorts of problems some farmers could be facing, including “abuse in the family, children not going to school”.
“This is a big problem that primarily manifests itself sometimes in that last push.”
‘Small number of estates’ impacting, insists the government
Wednesday 11 December 2024 14:38 , Alex RossDowning Street has reiterated the government’s view that only a small number of farmers will be affected by changes to inheritance tax.
Asked whether the Prime Minister had a message for farmers who are protesting in Westminster on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “This Government recognises that food security is national security; that’s why we remain steadfast in our support for farmers.”
Asked whether there would be any rethink on inheritance tax, the spokesman added: “No.
“We have been clear that we understand the strength of feeling about the changes, but we are clear this will only affect a small number of estates.
“Three-quarters of estates will be unaffected by these changes, but the Government’s commitment to farmers is steadfast.”
More pictures from today’s protest
Wednesday 11 December 2024 14:52 , Alex Ross
How young farmer transformed family farm business model due to changing industry
Wednesday 11 December 2024 15:46 , Reuben Hodson in WestminsterMathew Trevellyan, a young farmer from near Guildford, said he has completely transformed the business model of his family farm.
In 2001, the farm held 350 cattle alongside arable farmland. Today, it has no cattle. Instead, the family has converted the storage buildings into office spaces and shifted to earning income through stewardship, renting their land to shepherds for grazing sheep.
Mr Trevellyan stated that his family are business people and believes traditional farming now carries “too much risk for very little reward.”
Government making decisions with a ‘full stomach’, says chairman
Wednesday 11 December 2024 16:07 , Holly EvansRobert Martin, national chairman at the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), expressed concerns that the Government is making decisions with “a full stomach”.
Speaking about the tax change could effect food security, he told MPs: “If you look back over the years, every Government has had a cheap food policy and put – if you can call them that – a subsidy in place to mitigate that.”
He argued that most people he works with would rather take payments from the consumer rather than Government.
“As we mention food security, it was only my father’s generation that they remember rationing and I’m very concerned that ministers are making decisions on a full stomach at the moment.”
Farmer warns action could escalate if government don’t listen
Wednesday 11 December 2024 16:34 , Holly EvansOne of the protesters organisers said today’s action has been peaceful but it could escalate if the government refuses to listen.
David Catt, a vegetable and herb farmer from Maidstone in Kent and organiser for Kent Fairness for Farmers said farm wages had been falling since the 70s but the inheritance tax would ruin many family owned farms.
“These are all generational farmers, so the value of the land they’re working is irrelevant to what they do,” he said.
“The trouble is the money you’re getting out of the land does cover the inheritance tax.” Asked whether further strike action could cause food shortages, Catt said the inheritance tax would cause that problem in the long term.
“We’re trying to get th public on side by doing these public protests. All we’re doing is asking the gove to rethink this legislation,” he said.
“If we don’t get any change things could escalate up, we could bring the country to a standstill … [but] we don’t want it to come to that.”
Planned inheritance tax will affect more than just family farms
Wednesday 11 December 2024 16:50 , Rachel ClunWhile Neil Young is not a farmer - he’s an agricultural mechanic from Canterbury - he said the planned inheritance tax changes will affect his business which is why he joined the protest.
“It doesn’t affect me directly, but it will affect my work and everyone eventually,” he said.
Young said his children were studying agriculture at university and he wanted to ensure a future for them. “I just come along to help protect the future of farming,” he said.
“The gov just need to come around the table and talk to us.”
Farmer’s daughter say tax changes are ‘uncertain and very unfair'
Wednesday 11 December 2024 17:10 , Rachel ClunEdward Ford travelled from Dorkin in Surrey for the protest with his family.Ford, who owns a large beef and arable farm, said the planned inheritance tax changes will affect his family.
“I’ve spent the last 30 years increasing and buying land, and I now have quite a large farm for the area,” he said.
“I’ve taken no profits knowing we can pass it on.”
His daughter Harriet, 25, is already a partner in the farm, which has been in the family for nearly 100 years. She said the changes were confusing.
“It’s very uncertain and very unfair, I think it’s just completely unfair.” Her father said he didn’t belief strike action would affect the food supply.
Nature decline and rising temperatures pose risk to UK food security
Wednesday 11 December 2024 17:35 , Holly EvansLong-term declines in the natural environment and worsening climate change pose serious risks to UK food security, a Government report has warned.
The latest three-yearly report on food security has found the UK was 75% self-sufficient in the food that can be grown in this country last year, and produced the equivalent of 62% of overall food consumed.
But while the figures are broadly unchanged in the past two decades, the report warned that long-term declines in “natural capital” – resources such as clean water, healthy soils and wildlife such as pollinators – are a pressing risk to UK food production.
Read the full article here:
Nature decline and rising temperatures pose risk to UK food security – report
Loophole used by super rich to avoid tractor tax unavailable to many family farms
Wednesday 11 December 2024 18:00 , Holly EvansMost family farms will not be able to benefit from a loophole that is used by the super rich to avoid inheritance tax, meaning smaller estates are likely to be hit especially hard by the government’s tax raid.
In order to avoid being hit with the levy, a widely used tactic by people facing inheritance tax is to pass down assets seven years before death - but many family farms will be unable to do so as a result of the ‘gifts with reservation’ clause.
The clause means that if a farmer passes down their estate but still benefits from it by either living on the property or using the returns to fund their lifestyle, they will still be taxed on it.
Read the full article from Millie Cooke here:
Loophole used by super rich to avoid tractor tax unavailable to family farms
Tax experts cast doubt on claims only 500 farms will be affected
Wednesday 11 December 2024 18:30 , Holly EvansTax experts have cast doubt over Treasury figures that around 500 estates will be affected each year by the inheritance tax changes.
The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) has calculated that up to 75,000 individual farm business owners are “likely to be affected” over the coming generation.
Speaking at the Environment Committee on Wednesday, David Sturrock, senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank said the figures are on a “no behavioural change basis”.
“We might expect that of these estates who, if they did nothing, would pay higher tax. Some will change the ownership structure or make gifts in a way that should mean that that number would be lower.
“Of course, there’s a lot of uncertainty from that behavioural change but also the economic factors that drive forecasts, like land prices and so there’s some certainty in both directions on those figures.”
“There’s a lot of different numbers that have been going around of course,” he added. “The figures that come from Defra are about the value of farm businesses. In order to say something about how many would be potentially taxable, we need to know about their ownership structure but that’s something we don’t have the data on together with the value of those farms”.
Starmer urged to ‘change course’ on farmers’ inheritance tax plans
Wednesday 11 December 2024 19:00 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer should “change course” on the Government’s alterations to inheritance tax affecting family farms, opposition MPs have said.
The Commons also heard on Wednesday that some farmers considered the Labour Government “duplicitous”, as tractor drivers lined streets near the Palace of Westminster to protest against the measures.
From April 2026, farmers will pay 20% inheritance tax on agricultural property and land after the first £1 million-worth when they previously paid none, as part of plans announced in this year’s budget.
Read the full article here:
Starmer urged to ‘change course’ on farmers’ inheritance tax plans
Watch: Tractor procession begins in Westminster
Wednesday 11 December 2024 19:30 , Holly EvansBudget has not looked at tax loophole which shouldn’t affect farmers
Wednesday 11 December 2024 20:00 , Holly EvansMPs have heard that the Budget has not looked at a tax loophole where those who sell assets and then buy agricultural land can avoid capital gains tax on those original assets sold.
Dr Arun Advani, director of the think tank CenTax, said changing these rules would not affect farmers who are currently using the land for agriculture and food production.
He added that a fairly standard tax planning strategy would be to sell assets, get the large gain, purchase agricultural property, and hold that until death when there is both relief of inheritance tax and capital gains tax.
“So I think something that hasn’t seemed to have been looked at at this Budget, but that certainly should be scrutinised, because it causes this exact problem – the fact that relief for any asset I’m selling, if I’m using it to buy agricultural land, is a way in which I can avoid the capital gains and currently inheritance tax.
“And that creates demand for agricultural land from people who have no desire to farm the land but want to buy it because they’re getting it from a tax minimisation perspective.”
Sir Keir Starmer reminded of comments he made to National Farmers’ Union ahead of election
Wednesday 11 December 2024 21:00 , Holly EvansDuring PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer was reminded of comments he made to the National Farmers’ Union, when he appeared to show support for family farms.
Those remarks have stuck with farmers who say inheritance tax changes announced after Labour came to power will hurt family farms.
At PMQs, Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew said: “‘Losing a farm is not like losing any other business. It can’t come back.’
“Now, those are the words of the Prime Minister, that is what he said to the NFU in order to get their votes, so can the Prime Minister understand why farmers in Broadland and Fakenham and around the country now think that his administration is duplicitous?”
In his reply, Sir Keir told the Commons: “I think everybody welcomes the £5 billion over the next two years that we’ve put in the budget – well, they shake their heads, I’m afraid they do.
“£350 million in the last week alone, compared with the £300 million underspend by the last government.
“On the threshold, as he well knows, in an ordinary family case, the threshold is £3 million and that means the vast majority of farmers will be unaffected.”
Thank you for following
Wednesday 11 December 2024 21:11 , Holly EvansWe’re now ending our live coverage of this event, thank you for following.
