Labour’s plans to slap inheritance tax on the sale of farms are a menace to psychological well being in already-struggling farming communities, the Government can be warned this week.
A particular debate within the House of Commons will put the highlight on stress and isolation confronted by farmers and their households. This follows outcry at Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s plans to restrict inheritance tax reduction for farms from April 2026.
Newly-elected Conservative MP Aphra Brandreth stated: “The decisions that ministers in Whitehall make have a direct impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people in our farming communities. At a time when the Government should be backing our farmers, they have decided to hit them with higher taxes and increased regulation.
“Labour committed at the election not to increase taxes on working people. Local farmers are some of the hardest working people I know.”
Ms Brandreth warned the modifications threat “decimating the farming industry and seeing the end of the family farm”.
She stated: “Decisions like these will do nothing to reduce the stress and improve the mental wellbeing of farming families.”
Her considerations are shared by the National Farmers’ Union.
The union’s Aled Jones, an eighth-generation farmer primarily based in Caernarfon, stated: “Farmers were already under an extreme amount of pressure, whether that be due to rising costs, the weather, regulation or policy changes to name but a few.
“There is no doubt that the decision by the Chancellor to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation is a massive added burden and will leave many farmers with neither the means, confidence nor the incentive to invest in the future of their business.”
He stated this has had an influence on the psychological well being of farming households throughout the nation and urged anybody who’s struggling to contact companies that assist.
Under the modifications, the total 100 per cent reduction from inheritance tax can be restricted to the primary £1million of “combined agricultural and business property”.
Beyond this, landowners can be taxed at 20 per cent however this may be paid over a decade interest-free.
A mass protest by farmers is deliberate in London for November 19. Organisers need to stage the most important meals financial institution donation with home-grown produce.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher of the Countryside Alliance stated: “We know that mental health is an unspoken illness that still remains a taboo subject for too many people in the countryside.
“The difficulties faced by farmers on a daily basis cannot be understated and this debate comes at a very significant time politically, when there is genuine anxiety among many farmers and their families about the future.”
Ms Brandreth stated individuals in farming communities have a “just get on with it” perspective and work “incredibly long and unsociable” hours which makes it exhausting for them to speak about their struggles.
The MP desires psychological well being providers to have much less of a deal with “urban city centres” and warned that farming is going through a “recruitment crisis” which has led to low morale.
Other issues embody “transport isolation” and lack of dependable cell phone connections.
A Government spokeswoman stated: “The government’s commitment to our farmers remains steadfast. It’s why we have committed £5billion to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production.
“We understand concerns about changes to Agricultural Property Relief but the majority of those claiming relief will not be affected by these changes. They will be able to pass the family farm down to their children just as previous generations have always done.
“This is a fair and balanced approach that protects the family farm while also fixing the public services that we all rely on.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1973935/mental-health-crisis-countryside-could