Farm organisations along with those involved in tomorrow’s (Wednesday December 11) tractor protest at Westminster have come together under the Fairness for Farmers in Europe banner.
Fairness for Farmers in Europe (FFE) is an ‘open door’ federation of farm organisations that facilities the coming together of farm organisations on the big issues affecting agriculture at the time.
FFE has said that it successfully took the first ever case by any farm organisation to the EU Ombudsman’s Office in Strasburg in 2007 on the issue of inferior quality imports of Brazilian beef coming into the EU.
William Taylor of Farmers for Action (FFA), who is now coordinator of Fairness for Farmers in Europe stated: “To date the Labour Party’s chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has stayed silent on the massive issue of her October budget recklessly introducing Inheritance Tax on farms across the UK.
However, Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has had a conversation with NFU [National Farmers’ Union] president Tom Bradshaw, albeit, talk only.
“Wednesday’s tractor protest is set to do two things; firstly, create a huge presence of the countryside in London to remind the government that the pressure is on them and will stay on them until this tax is reversed.
“Secondly, a letter has been sent directly to the chancellor by Fairness for Farmers in Europe. This letter makes the case to the chancellor to discuss at the requested meeting – the setting aside completely of the Inheritance Tax and instead introduce a UK-wide Farm Welfare Bill, directly copied off the NI Farm Welfare Bill, currently with the Stormont Agriculture Committee,” Taylor added.
Taylor has stated that this will deliver far more tax from profitable farmers and the 123 businesses they purchase from than the Inheritance Tax which has been introduced.
“We can make the sums add up for the chancellor, the UK and the UK’s farmers but only if she is willing to meet and listen,” Taylor added.
Letter ahead of protest
The letter to the chancellor states: “The changes to inheritance tax will destroy the UK farm sector as we know it and will considerably undermine our ability to produce safe sustainable British food for British consumers.
“Representatives from… farm organisations would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience to deliver a way forward on the hugely important issue of inheritance tax on UK family farmers.
“Therefore, unless the Labour Party has some other agenda other than making the UK prosperous, ensuring food security increases, genuinely fixing accelerated climate change, increasing the tax take from newly profitable businesses and stopping UK farmers having to escalate their protests, then we assume we can expect a date for our meeting,” the letter concluded.