Isle of Wight councillors back farmers in inheritance tax battle
They're calling on the island's two MPs to do what they can to prevent levies being introduced
A motion to support Isle of Wight farmers following contentious government tax changes has been passed by County Hall’s full council.
Last night (Wednesday 26th), the chamber voted for Cllr Claire Critchison’s proposal that council leader Phil Jordan calls for the Island’s two MPs to ‘advocate for a pause and further consultation on the changes’ and writes to the government to ask that the ‘effects of these various actions on the farming community’ are ‘considered as a whole’.
Her submission also instructs County Hall’s cabinet to meet with National Farmer’s Union representatives to ‘discuss how the council can support and work with local farmers and rural businesses’ and ‘consider all reasonable and practical measures to provide support to and work with the farming sector in the future’.
The motion’s preamble states:
"The Isle of Wight’s farming and rural community are at the heart of our Island as food producers, employers and custodians of the land, and the important role they can play in nature restoration and flood alleviation.
"Our farmers are in the front line of climate change and so have borne the brunt of severe weather and flooding, affecting harvests and the sustainability of their businesses.
"In light of the objections to the changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) announced by the government in the Autumn Budget.
"And the fact that the changes have the potential to introduce a ‘Family Farm Tax’, which severely undermines the viability of our Island’s farming sector and threatens the nation’s food security.”
The motion comes as rural businesses coming together to discuss the ongoing issues faced by the sector at the island's first ever farming conference on Thursday (February 27th).
Graham Biss, chief organiser of the event at the East Afton Farmhouse, said the event would discuss issues including sustainable farming practices, food security and subsidies.
He also urged the Government to recognise the unique challenges facing farmers there:
"I think until you're actually here on the Island, you don't appreciate the nuances.
"You can't just get in your car or jump on a train, you've got to plan a lot of things, and of course there are a lot of extra costs.
"We produce some of the best-quality food in the world on our doorstep, so we've just got to make those connections, and maybe some of that has been lost over successive governments."