Norfolk farmers warn of 'dire consequences' if planned inheritance tax changes, go ahead
The NFU's 'Day of Unity' is designed to build pressure on the government to halt it's planned changes inheritance tax, for farmers
Two farmers in Norfolk are telling us the future of their industry looks bleak- if planned increases to inheritance taxes for growers- go ahead from next April
Growers are demonstrating in town and city centres- across the UK today-in a 'Day of Unity' against the Government's decision put a levy on farmland assets worth up over £1 million.
"More farms will go into bigger hands, there'll be less control and more intensive farming"
Patrick owns a farm near Downham Market:
"We've already been approached by a foreign investor, who's speculatively asked to buy the farm.
"This direction of travel means that more farms will go into bigger hands, there'll be less control and more intensive farming
"The countryside landscape will change and become more remote, with less people looking after the farms"
"The Government should just draw a line through the entire thing, put their hands up and say they've got it totally wrong.
"That's not where the industry should be at the moment"
Will Sargent also farms in the county and chair of the National Farmers Union's (NFU) branch in Norwich:
"You could be one of the best farmers out there and you could still be losing money, and that's not where the industry should be at the moment.
"We need to, as a country and a Government, support family farms to help them make a living and continue to exist.
"The Government say this policy is all about stopping enormous landowners and big businesses from investing in farmland.
"But in reality, it doesn't achieve that aim at all and is a low amount of inheritance tax for people like that".
What's the purpose of today's events?
It's been spearheaded by the National Farmers and is designed to build pressure on the government to halt it's planned changes to Agricultural Property Relief & Business property relief.
The three simple messages will run through all of today's events
-This tax is badly thought out and will crush family farming in Britain.
-The wonderful support of the public means everything to farmers.
-We are not going away. This will go on as long as it needs to go on.
"This date will give everyone that wants to an opportunity to support family farms"
FU 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 members of 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.”
What's the Government said on this?
In a joint statement issued, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed said:
"Farmers are the backbone of Britain, and we recognise the strength of feeling expressed by farming and rural communities in recent weeks. We are steadfast in our commitment to Britain’s farming industry because food security is national security.
It's why we are investing £5 billion into farming over the next two years – the largest amount ever directed towards sustainable food production, rural economic growth and nature’s recovery in our country’s history.
But with public services crumbling and a £22 billion fiscal hole that this Government inherited, we have taken difficult decisions.
The reforms to Agricultural Property Relief ensure that wealthier estates and the most valuable farms pay their fair share to invest in our schools and health services that farmers and families in rural communities rely on"