Some Labour Party backbenchers are questioning the rationale of imposing inheritance tax on farm land across the UK, according to farmer representative group, Farmers For Action (FFA).
It has also stated that this number is expected to grow over the coming weeks.
FFA spokesperson, William Taylor was one of the organisation’s representatives in London yesterday (February 10), participating in a protest rally.
The event was held to reflect the deep anger felt by farmers across the UK following last October’s decision by the chancellor of the exchequer’s decision to include farm land within the remit of inheritance tax.
William Taylor commented: “We want the burden of inheritance tax removed from farm families. If the chancellor wants to push ahead and target corporate who buy land as a tax avoidance measure, so be it.”
Taylor confirmed that the umbrella body, Fairness for Farmers in Europe, has written to the chancellor on three occasions, asking for a formal meeting to discuss the inheritance tax issue.
“But, to date, no reply has been received,” he told Agriland.
“Another letter will be sent to 11 Downing Street over the coming days. If no response is received to this communication, a final correspondence will be despatched prior to the chancellor’s Spring Statement in March.
“After that, all bets will be off,” he added.
Action against inheritance tax decision
The FFA representative feels that diplomacy can only be given so much time.
“After that farmers will be asked to stop sending their produce to market. This may be the only way that we can get the government to take our case seriously,” he continued.
Not sending produce to market would include dairy farmers using their milk as a fertiliser rather than sending it on for processing.
“This approach has been previously used by farmers in Europe with some success,” Taylor explained.
“The government must be made fully aware of the deep anger that is felt by farmers right across the UK regarding the absolute unfairness of the new inheritance tax measures.”
William Taylor is also calling for the organisation’s Farm Welfare Bill to be introduced across the UK.
“This is the only way of delivering prices to farmers that recognise their costs of production in full. There were a large number of young farmers taking part in this week’s London protest,” he said.
“They know there is no future for them in production agriculture if the current government’s plans are not reversed.”
