The president of the Nationwide Farmers Union says there may be “fury” and “anger” amongst farmers – after the federal government refused to vary its controversial inheritance tax plans.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw met with the Treasury on Tuesday morning and mentioned the union was providing them various options that elevate funds.
“The government believes they are correct in the decisions they’ve made. Disappointment doesn’t describe how I feel,” he mentioned.
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The union chief added: “The message was clear to them today – go away.”
He mentioned the union was “really cross” in regards to the authorities’s lack of motion.
“They don’t care about the human impact…intergenerational impact. They don’t care about food production.”
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Tom Bradshaw, the top of the NFU, talking to Sky Information
In final October’s finances, the federal government introduced plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax on farms price greater than £1m from April 2026.
It claims solely the wealthiest of farms will probably be impacted, however farming teams say it’ll in actual fact make hundreds of small and medium-sized farms financially unviable.
The NFU has proposed a clawback scheme which might see tax solely charged as soon as a farm is bought, relatively than on inheritance.
There have been quite a few protests in opposition to the change, with lots of of tractors blocking Whitehall and Downing Road final week.
On questions on whether or not farmers ought to blockade meals depots and disrupt manufacturing, Mr Bradshaw mentioned: “Public support is absolutely fundamental to pressurising the government.
“We should preserve public assist in any respect prices as that can drive political assist. I get the real anger and frustration that farmers are feeling at this time, however public assist will get us by this.”
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A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “Our commitment to farmers and rural communities remains steadfast.
“This authorities will make investments £5bn into farming over the subsequent two years, the most important finances for sustainable meals manufacturing in our nation’s historical past.
“Our reform to agricultural and business property reliefs will mean farmers will pay a reduced inheritance tax rate of 20%, rather than the standard 40% for other businesses, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free.
“It is a honest and balanced strategy, which fixes the general public companies all of us depend on, affecting round 500 estates a 12 months.”
Shadow environment, food and rural affairs secretary Victoria Atkins said of the meeting: “Calling farmers in for a gathering to patronise and ignore them reveals Labour are pushed solely by metropolitan vanity.”
Liberal Democrat environment and rural affairs spokesperson Tim Farron MP said: “This authorities is throwing farmers to the wolves.”
