The Chancellor of the Exchequer has been given until Wednesday, March 26 to reverse a decision to extend UK inheritance tax measures to farm land.
If this does not materialise, Fairness for Farmers in Europe will be calling on all UK agricultural businesses to withdraw their produce from the market.
The umbrella body represents a significant number of farm bodies operating in the UK and Ireland, including Framers for Action (FFA) and the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association.
FFA spokesman, William Taylor commented: “The March 26 date is significant as it is the day on which the Chancellor gives her spring statement to the House of Commons.
“Fairness for Farmers has written to the Chancellor on a number of occasions over recent weeks, asking for a meeting with her to discuss the inheritance tax issue.
“Up to now, we have not received a reply. Further correspondence to the Chancellor will follow. Each letter is signed off by representatives from the individual organisations that make up the Fairness for Farmers,” he added.
According to the FFA representative, March 26 represents an appropriate date when the tone and intensity of the farmer campaign to get “inheritance tax justice” must change.
“In practical terms, this mean farmers withdrawing their produce from the market.
“Farmers are furious at the way the inheritance tax change was introduced. The Chancellor must be made totally aware of this reality,” Taylor said.
He points to the UK-wide introduction of a Farm Welfare Bill as being an alternative to the inheritance tax option.
“Guaranteeing fair prices for farmers means that they will make profits in a sustainable basis,” he explained.
“This reality would automatically lift the value of the tax revenues delivered to the Exchequer by production agriculture.
“In other words: it represents a win:win scenario for farmers, consumers and the government,” he explained.
The FFA representative also believes that the introduction of a Farm Welfare Bill would help to boost UK food self sufficiency.
Food self-sufficiency figures in the UK currently stand at 65%, whereas two decades ago they stood at around 80%.
Taylor concluded: “The Chancellor must meet with farming leaders in the run up to her spring statement. I am aware that treasury officials met with farming representatives earlier this week with no progress achieved regarding the introduction of amendments to the new inheritance tax measures.
“But it was the Chancellor who introduced the changes in the first place: it’s her job to make the changes that all farmers in the UK are now calling for.”
