Farmers across UK stage new protests against changes to inheritance tax
The National Farmers Union said that agricultural workers are at "breaking point"
Demonstrations are being held by farmers across the UK in protest at reforms to inheritance tax by the government.
A petition set up by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) contesting moves by ministers to implement changes to the tax garnered 270,000 signatures.
The NFU handed the petition to 10 Downing Street by president Tom Bradshaw on Friday (January 24th), with the union adding that farmers were at "breaking point".
It comes as the union celebrates the National Day of Unity on Saturday (January 25th), as they continue to voice their opposition for the "devastating family farm tax".
In a statement, the NFU said: "After decades of tightening margins, record inflation, increased production costs and extreme weather, many farmers and growers are at breaking point and simply will not be able to afford the increased tax bill they will now face.
"With the likely loss of family farm businesses as a result of this tax, alongside increases in employment costs also announced in the Budget, there is a real risk to UK food production."
Protests are taking place in various areas across the country from Kendal in Cumbria to Ipswich in Suffolk as demonstrators voice their opposition against the proposals.
A joint statement from the four presidents of farming unions across the UK said they were putting on a united front in order to show their discontent to increase tax rates for farmers amid the cost of living crisis.
"The industry is not taking this lying down," the presidents said. "The government has woken a sleeping giant, as our mass lobby of MPs in Westminster and the farmer-led rally in Whitehall have demonstrated.
"Farmers at events across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be on hand to speak with the public to explain why changes to Agriculture Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) stand to punish food-producing businesses, destroying generations of work from hard-pressed farming families and changing the face of our rural communities forever."
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