Cumbrian farmers to take part in 'National Day of Unity' to stop the family farm tax

On 25 January towns in Cumbria will see farmers gathering to thank the British public for their support, and to underline to their objection to the inheritance tax on farms.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: "Farmers haven’t taken this destructive policy lying down and we won’t give up. There is too much at risk – our families, our future, our heritage and the undermining of the very sector that produces a safe, secure supply of British food.

"This date will give everyone that wants to an opportunity to support family farms from right across the UK, to show unity and strength, and for farmers and growers to speak as one in our call for government to stop the family farm tax.

"We are so grateful to the British public for their ongoing support on this issue. The 25th is not just a day for the farming community to show unity, but anyone who believes Britain’s family farms, and the high quality food they produce, deserve to be better valued and supported."

Details of the individual events in each region of England, and across the other home nations, will be released in January, with specific plans led by NFU farming leaders in those areas.

There are no concrete plans on what will be happening in Cumbria, however discussions are ongoing as to how the farmers of the county will take part.

Cumbria's NFU Chairman John Longmire said: "It could be one large event or we might spread ourselves out in the market towns. But yes there will be something going on.

"Every county has been given a blank piece of paper to do as they see fit.

"We most certainly will not be closing roads and shutting the country down though. We just want to make more people aware of the unfair tax. Inheritance tax is an awful tax full stop.

"We just want to raise awareness of the damage this will do to family farms. It isn't just the large ones, this is some very average sized family farms this is going to have implications for.

"We have to keep that awareness up."

A Government spokesperson said: "Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast – we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including more money than ever for sustainable food production, and we are developing a 25-year farming roadmap, focusing on how to make the sector more profitable in the decades to come.

"Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will impact around 500 estates a year. For these estates, inheritance tax will be at half the rate paid by others, with 10 years to pay the liability back interest free. This is a fair and balanced approach which fixes the public services we all rely on."