Labour has been urged to delay its controversial inheritance tax raid on farmers by a yr. MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee known as on the Government to look once more on the reforms and push again implementation from April 2026 to April 2027 in a report launched at present.
The cross-party group of MPs mentioned the pause “would permit for higher formulation of tax coverage and supply the Government with a possibility to convey a optimistic long-term imaginative and prescient for farming”. They added that it would also protect vulnerable farmers who would have “more time to seek appropriate professional advice”.
The Government has faced an ongoing backlash for restricting the current 100% inheritance tax relief for farms to the first £1 million of combined agricultural and business property in the autumn budget last October.
Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael, who chairs the committee, said: “There is a chance right here to rebuild belief and confidence within the farming sector and I hope that the Government will take our suggestions critically.
“The way in which the Government has behaved over recent months has clearly negatively affected the confidence and wellbeing of farmers.
“The Government, however, seems to be dismissing farmers’ concerns and ignoring the strength of feeling evidenced in the months of protests that saw tractors converge on Westminster and up and down the country.
“We have seen that Defra’s communications with farmers have been poor, with confusing and sometimes contradictory messaging. There has been a lack of adequate consultation.
“Policies affecting farmers have been announced without due consideration or explanation of their impact or their rationale.
“Farmers ought to be the essential element in the Government’s plans both to achieve food security and to restore and protect the environment. When they make decisions for their businesses, farmers have to plan for the long term – but the landscape they are operating in currently is unclear. Farmers urgently need clarity, certainty and advance notice of changes – they cannot be expected to rethink their businesses on a whim. It is essential that Defra focuses on rebuilding trust through good-faith communications with the sector.”
Campaigners have warned the coverage, which has sparked main protests, dangers destroying household farms throughout the nation.
The Daily Express has been campaigning for a U-turn on the coverage with our Save Britain’s Family Farm campaign.
Defra has been contacted for remark.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2055703/labour-inheritance-tax-farmers