Farmers descend on Westminster amid row over inheritance tax as Starmer faces questions from MPs
Hundreds of farmers rallied in Westminster today, chanting “farmers, no food” outside Downing Street, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces tough questions in the Commons over proposed changes to inheritance tax.
Bulldozers blocked parts of Whitehall during a protest organized by Save British Farming and Kent Fairness for Farmers, reflecting growing industry anger over Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax proposals.
Under the plans, announced in last month’s Budget, inheritance tax will rise to 20 per cent on agricultural properties worth more than £1 million. Although the government insists that most farms will remain unaffected, farmers’ organizations say the threshold is too low to cover many families. Around 500 farmers marched in Westminster today to protest, following a rally of around 13,000 people in the capital last month.
During the protest, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey pressed Sir Keir Starmer on whether he would “change course and recognize the important role that family farms play.” In response, the Prime Minister said the “vast majority” of farms would not be affected, citing the £3 million limit for a “typical family” case.
However, many farmers remain unconvinced. Matt Cullen, a beef farmer and organizer of Kent Fairness for Farmers, said: “We need to show this government that we will not be pushed around and have our farms destroyed. This is a war and we will win it and force the government to turn around.”
Among the protesters was 26-year-old Claire Fifield, whose stepfamily owns a rented farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Ms Fifield said the £1 million limit was unreasonably low given the costs associated with farming: “I don’t think they’ve ever spoken to a single farmer, especially not a tenant farmer. They looked at Jeremy Clarkson and decided to take his money, but this is punishing people who have worked in this world for generations.”
The emotional pain of the dispute was highlighted at a meeting of the Commons Environment Committee, where Tom Bradshaw, President of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), broke down in tears as he described the pressure some farmers face. Young farmers are reported to be worried that their parents will not survive the seven years required to avoid taxation, putting businesses that have been nurtured for decades at risk. Bradshaw warned of dire human consequences, including the possibility of farmers committing suicide due to financial desperation.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew reminded Sir Keir Starmer of his pre-election comments to the NFU, when he admitted that losing a farm “is not like losing any other business.” Mayhew accused the current administration of being duplicitous. Sir Keir responded by highlighting the £5 billion in funding promised to agriculture over the next two years, including £350 million allocated last week, and insisted that “the majority of farmers will not be affected” by the changes.
As tensions remain high, the government has stalled on its reforms, while many farmers fear the new inheritance tax will jeopardize the family farms that have supported communities and produced Britain’s food for generations.
Peter Jones
One of the most sought-after divorce lawyers in the UK, Jones Myers was founded in 1992, the first qualified mediator in Leeds and former national chairman of Resolution. Peter has extensive experience in all aspects of financial disputes and is an expert in matters relating to small family businesses.
