Rachel Reeves slammed by Labour councillors over 1 key problem as civil conflict may erupt | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer has been dealt an enormous blow by 39 Labour councillors after they voted for a movement in opposition to Rachel Reeves’ farm tax. A movement calling for Durham County Council to face up for native farmers and lift issues over the way forward for the sector was tabled at a gathering this week. It was put ahead by Conservative chief Richard Bell, and requested leaders to “outline the council’s dismay at the decisions made in the recent Budget”.

In October, the Chancellor introduced that, from April 2026, taxes would apply to agricultural property over £1million, or as much as £3million in “certain circumstances”. There has additionally been fury on the Government closing the sustainable farming incentive (SFI) scheme for brand new purposes. A spokesperson for the authority confirmed to the Express that all the councillors current on the assembly supported the movement. These included 37 Labour representatives. Fifth technology farmer and NFU North Riding and Durham County Chair Clare Wise urged the council to place ahead the movement of help.

She mentioned the union is “thrilled and grateful” that the authority despatched a “strong message” to Government concerning the very important function farmers play, and the “devastating effects their poorly planned policies will have on them”.

Ms Wise added: “Durham County is the heartland of family farming and relies heavily on the rural community for jobs and a thriving economy.

“Beyond inheritance tax, the recent halting of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, shorting uplands support, new taxes on fertiliser and supply chain inequalities have seen farm incomes locally fall by record levels.

“Hard working people deserve a better deal from this government and the council has fully acknowledged this and the local communities are grateful and lucky to have such strong representation.

“A huge thank you to all who voted and it was a huge message of support for all of our members, it is so good that we have that support and every drop creates an ocean.”

Here is a listing of the Labour councillors who voted for the movement:

• Cllr Eddy Adam
• Cllr Robert Adcock-Forster
• Cllr Veronica Andrews
• Cllr Jim Atkinson
• Cllr Peter Atkinson
• Cllr Alison Batey
• Cllr Curtis Bihari
• Cllr June Clark
• Cllr Rob Crute
• Cllr Stacey Deinali
• Cllr Kevin Earley
• Cllr Louise Fenwick
• Cllr Christine Fletcher
• Cllr Julie Griffiths
• Gunn Wheel Cllr
• Cllr David Hall
• Cllr Carole Hampson
• Cllr Simon Henig
• Cllr Lucy Hovvels (Labour and Cooperative) – a part of the Labour Group on DCC
• Cllr Matt Johnson
• Cllr Charlie Kay
• Cllr Richard Manchester
• Cllr Carl Marshall
• Cllr David McKenna
• Cllr Jake Miller (Labour and Cooperative)
• Cllr Declan Mulholland
• Cllr and nicholls
• Cllr Paul Pringle
• Cllr John Purvis
• Cllr Shirley Quinn
• Cllr Kevin Shaw
• CLLE George Smith
• Cllr Tracie Smith
• Cllr Angela Surtees
• Cllr Chris Varty (Labour and Cooperative)
• Cllr Emma Waldock
• Cllr June Watson
• Cllr Marion Wilson
• Cllr Danny Wood