Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president, William Irvine has indicated that morale across agriculture in Northern Ireland is at an all time low.

He points to this being a direct consequence of the decision taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to include agricultural land within the UK’s inheritance tax net last October.

Irvine spoke at a recent briefing for agricultural journalists, adding:

“The Chancellor’s decision has left many farmers questioning their very future within the industry, and I can fully understand why this should be the case.

“But the key upside to this development, has been the universal reaction at farm level across Northern Ireland to campaign for its reversal.

“And this is the journey, which the UFU has now embarked upon.”

The union president flagged up the 6,500-strong attendance at a rally before Christmas as evidence of farmers’ resolve to get the Chancellor’s decision changed.

UFU

A petition supported by 15,000 farmers was submitted to the office of the secretary of state in London, as a direct follow-on form the rally.

“Getting the inheritance tax issue resolved may take time. We don’t see there being a quick fix to this matter. However, the UFU is totally committed to securing the solution required, no matter how long it takes,” Irvine added.

The union is hosting six tractor rallies on Saturday, January 25 as a means of highlighting to the general public the potential, which the inheritance tax change has to damage the entire infrastructure of agriculture in Northern Ireland.

“Our aim is not to inconvenience the general public as they go about their business. Rather, it’s very much a case of keeping the inheritance tax issue to the fore within the public domain.

“We know that consumes, for the most part, support our cause. So, it’s very much a case of keeping them on board as the inheritance tax issue gathers momentum.

“We also know that politicians representing all of our communities in Northern Ireland want the inheritance tax decision reversed,” he explained.

There is strong recognition across the UK that “the inheritance tax decision taken by the Chancellor was flawed on all counts”, according to the UFU president.

“In the first instance, her figures were completely flawed. Claiming that only a small number of farming businesses would be impacted by the proposed tax changes was completely wrong.

“We now know that literally thousands of farming families will be impacted by the new measures, if introduced in their current form.

“Agriculture in Northern Ireland will feel the brunt of these changes,” Irvine continued.