Farmers, Frustration & The Need for an Escort
Picture this: the government’s top farming minister, Daniel Zeichner, is so intimidating in the villages that he occasionally needs a security detail to get through the protests. Yes, that’s literally what happened at the Future Countryside conference.
“I don’t run away from the sector”
Zaechner’s key takeaway? Nothing about farmer relations is left to the side. He told the crowd,
I don’t run away from engaging with the sector. I love going out and meeting people, seeing people.
On occasion I now need an escort, but by and large, the only way to rebuild trust is through open, sensible dialogue.
And that’s the high‑street version of garden‑shed governance: real talk, real ears.
The Inheritance Tax Twist
- Starting April next year, farms with assets over £1 million will pay a 20 % inheritance tax.
- For a community of about 200,000 farmers, that’s a sobering chart on how the government’s policy can hurt.
Inside the Ministry: “We’ll Talk, We’ll Listen”
One source inside the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs assured us that tough conversations remain the policy stay‑away. “We have always engaged with farmers and never shied away from difficult conversations,” they said. “This will continue as long as we are in government.”
Sharp Words from Shadow Leaders
Meanwhile, opposition voices have been high‑pitched. The Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, Victoria Atkins, slammed the current Secretary of State, Steve Reed, for “family farm tax” policies that, according to her, have led to multiple farmer suicides.
- Atkins has called for the resignation of Reed, calling the ‘tractor tax’ a stain on rural communities.
- “Before Christmas, I warned the Secretary that a farmer had taken their own life because of the family farms tax,” she claimed.
- Reed’s budget changes, announced by Rachel Reeves earlier this Autumn, allegedly failed to address the psychological toll on farmers.
What’s the Bottom Line?
There’s a serious conversation brewing between leads, policy makers, and farmers themselves — a conversation that cannot take place without some painful truths. Whether a minister needs an escort or a town hall is a sign of rising tensions, but the future will hinge on honest listening and, hopefully, a fairer tax structure.
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