Farmers Outrage Over Labour’s New Inheritance Tax Hits Sirens!
Why 20% on 1M‑plus Farms is a Bulldozer to Herder Pride
Tom Bradshaw, the head honcho of the National Farmers’ Union, warned that the UK’s livestock folks are not going to quietly accept a new tax that could make the estate of a family farm pay as much as a luxury car price tag.
What the Change Means
- Inherit a farm valued £1 million or more?
- Pay a lumpy 20% inheritance tax.
- That’s a potential £3 million in hand‑cash owed to the Treasury.
- Most farmers don’t have a stack of coins ready.
Farmers React
They called it “completely unfair” after Labour unveiled its first Autumn Budget. Bradshaw noted the “angry roar” isn’t going to fade without a fight.
Will They Take a Stand?
- The Union says many are ready to go militant.
- They’re rooking the idea of a “quiet protest.”
- Strong support for the change is new, as Bradshaw admits he never seen this level of engagement.
Bottom Line
Farmers fear their inheritance could slip below the harvest line, and Ministers should double‑check if the tax will crush farms into the barroom of a loss.
Labour accused of ‘thievery’ and farmers warn of ‘catastrophic’ consequences
Labour’s Inheritance Tax Shakeup Leaves Farmers in a Fog of Confusion
Picture this: a town hall meeting, a wobbly tea mug, and a whole lot of anger simmering between the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and the Treasury. The latest Budget had the political elites thinking they were ruffling a few feathers, but the real mess? Farmers and their families.
Nice Talk with the Big Bosses
On Monday, NFU President Craig Bradshaw sat down with Environment Secretary Steve Reed and Treasury’s James Murray. The result? A straight‑up warning that many farms are heading towards a clutch of new taxes.
- Bradshaw slammed the Treasury’s figures as “completely wrong.”
- He pointed out that the Treasury says only 27 % of farms will trigger the tax. But Defra’s own numbers say it could be as many as two‑thirds.
- “How can one government be so off?” he asked. “It’s a monumental mismatch.”
The Fiscal Fine‑Print
Bradshaw didn’t hold back. He explained that the chancellor’s “massive mistake” left family farms scrambling. “If you’re a family farm, you’re in deep trouble,” he told the PA news agency. “There’s no clean escape route out of here.”
He also opened the floor for the idea of “militant” responses from the farmers. “We’re not playing the role of a sparring partner, but the fire behind their frustration is real. The government needs to hear what they’re shouting about.”
Chancellor’s Take‑away
The Chancellor’s calm voice on the BBC was almost a boomerang: “Only a very small number of agricultural properties will be affected,” he said. “But look at this—last year, 40 % of the relief benefit went to just 7 % of the wealthiest land owners. We can’t keep doing that under the nose of our tight finances.”
A Call for Fresh Sunshine
For farmers, the scene is akin to a calm pasture suddenly hit by a storm: They’re looking for a way to keep their family legacy alive and hope the government comes with a solution.
So, what’s next? Let’s see if the policy shift eventually unravels or if the farmers stand, united, demanding a new draft to preserve the future of family farming across the country.
