POLL: Should Labour U-turn on farmer inheritance tax? (Image: Getty)
Thousands of farmers are against .
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has accused the government of “betrayal” and plans a day of speeches at Church House in Westminster before marching to parliament.
, and a grassroots protest will kick off on Whitehall this morning, Tuesday, November 19.
Chancellor announced in her Budget last month that from April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1million, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20%, half the usual rate.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw told Newsnight: “These are people’s lives, these are people’s livelihoods we are talking about. They have no ability to plan.”
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The Treasury says the hike will only , but the NFU and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) estimate that up to 70,000 farms could be affected.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “It’s only right to ask the very wealthiest farmers and those wealthy individuals who have been buying up agricultural land to avoid their own inheritance tax liability, to pay their fair share.”
Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins said that Labour had delivered a “budget of broken promises” that was “killing British farming”.
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While the Liberal Democrats environment spokesman Tim Farron told Breakfast that the Treasury’s estimate of 500 farms being affected each year was “utter rubbish”.
He said: “The only way that people can pay the inheritance is get rid of the farm – so corporates buy it. It’s cruel, it’s unfair, it’s also incredibly stupid.”
So what do YOU think? Should Labour U-turn on farmer inheritance tax? and join the debate in the comment section below.